Effect of Type of Prey on the Presence and Remaining the Predatory Mite Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on different strawberry cultivars.

Relationships between plants, herbivores and natural enemies can help the understanding the interaction between three-levels of integrated pest management programs. The interaction of the food chain prey (the two-spotted spider mite and western flower thrips) and predator (Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)) and the host plants (strawberry cultivars: Marak, Yalova, Aliso, Gaviota, Sequoia, Camarosa and Chandler) were investigated. The predation rate and the presence frequency of the predatory mite on the pair of patches connected with a wax interface were compared. The type of prey did not effect on the presence frequency. In spite of the presence frequency on thrips patches, the predation rate of the predatory mite on nymph of thrips was less than two-spotted spider mite eggs. The presence frequency of the predatory mite on strawberry cultivars patches was different due to different special volatiles of strawberry cultivars. The predation rate of N. californicus between pair patches was showed significant difference, while, the number of the presence frequency among different strawberry cultivars has been differed in 61% of cases and the predation rate of the predatory mite has been differed in 52% of the cases. The presence frequency of the predatory mite on host patches were not affected by type of prey, however, the predation rate of N. californicus on preferred prey (two-spotted spider mite) was more than it on non- preferred prey (nymph of the thrips). The host plant and the prey species have an effect on the patch selection of the predatory mite and the predation rate.