Assessing predation parameters of predatory mite Typhlodromus bagdasarjani (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on different host plants

Itis important to use standard parameters forassessing the biological performance of natural enemiesin biological programs.The predation parametersof TyphlodromusbagdasarjaniWainstein&Arutunjan(Acari: Phytoseiidae) fed on the immature stages of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticaeKoch(Acari: Tetranychidae), reared on four different host plants including cucumber (cultivar ʻNeginʼ), tomato (cultivar ʻIsabellaʼ), eggplant (cultivar ʻBellʼ) and watermelon (cultivar ʻCrimsonʼ) were determined under laboratory conditions at 25 ± 1°C, 60 ± 5% R.H.and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h.Predation data were analyzed using the CONSUME MSChart.The lowest and highest estimated values for the net predation rate(C0)were recorded on eggplant (35.12 prey/individual) and tomato (95.87 prey/individual), respectively. The lowest transformation rate from prey population to predator offspring(Qp)(12.76 prey/egg) wasrecordedon cucumber which was not significantly different from those obtained on the others. The highest value for the stable predation rate (ψ) was recorded on the cucumber (2.49prey/predator) and the lowest amount was recorded on the watermelon (1.93prey/predator).The finite predation rate (ω) forT. bagdasarjanion the above-mentioned host plants was 2.73, 2.61, 2.03,and 2.04 (day−1),respectively. Our findings revealed the predation parameters of T. bagdasarjani fed on immature stages of T. urticaeon four different host plants and will be helpful for its sustainable management in different agro-ecosystems.