Predatorymites of the family Phytoseiidae have been successfully used in the biologicalcontrol of numerous agricultural pests worldwide. The present study deals withthe feeding efficacy of Euseius ovalis on Tetranychusmacfarlanei, a major spider mite pest with wide host range, inducing considerabledamage and yield loss to the vegetable crop, Abelmoschus esculentus, the commonly called okra.Feeding potential of E. ovalis was studied by rearing the preyand predator in an incubator, at 30 ± 20 Cand 64 ± 2% RH, by adopting the leaf flotation technique, on the leaf discs of okraplant . Known numbers of different life stages of T. macfarlanei wereoffered to different life stages of the predator and data were recorded on thefeeding activity and feeding rate of the predatory mite. The predatory mite itpierced the body of the prey with its chelicerae and gradually sucked out theinternal contents. Maximum feeding preference could be observed on the eggs ofthe pest mite, followed by the larva and protonymph. Lower feeding preferencewas observed on the adult and deutonymphal stages and the quiescent stages weretotally neglected by the predator. Prey consumption rates by the adult female,deutonymph, protonymph and the adult male of the predator were 63%, 52%, 50%and 33% respectively. Predator larva was recognized as a non feeding stage.Data when analysed statistically using the Two way ANOVA were foundsignificant, thereby establishing E. ovalis as a potentialpredator of T.macfarlanei.
How to cite this article:
Mohamed Liyaudheen* C.K., Rekha, P.K., Anitha, K. and Ramani, N. 2014. Feeding potential of Euseius ovalis (Evans) (Acaridae: Phytoseiidae) on Tetranychus macfarlanei Baker and Pritchard(Acaridae: Tetranychidae) infesting okra Journal of Biopesticides, 7, 148-151.
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