Long-term effects of saffron pollen on development, reproduction and predation capacity of Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Predatory phytoseiid mites as biocontrol agents are increasingly used in pest control programs across the globe, and Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) is one of them, which a commercially available agent against various pests greenhouse crops. This generalist predatory mite can feed on different foods diets, including small arthropods pollen. Feeding reproducing pollen diet considerable characteristic this that facilitates cost-effective production large numbers predator so-called mass rearing. Therefore, effects saffron (Crocus sativus L.) an alternative food source development reproduction N. were determined over 20 successive generations. In addition, predation ability nymphs adults being switched to natural prey, Tetranychus urticae Koch after 10<sup>th</sup> 20<sup>th</sup> generations was evaluated. The shortest longest developmental time happened 1<sup>th</sup> 5<sup>st</sup> generations, respectively. 1<sup>st</sup> had higher intrinsic rate increase (r) (0.171 0.170 day<sup>-1</sup>, respectively) than other while 5<sup>th</sup> generation lowest value parameter. fecundity not significantly when T. urticae. results study revealed rearing for did affect performance negatively be cucumeris.