Predator potential and prey stage preference of Neoseiulus longispinosus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to life stages of Tetranychus urticae and T. macfarlanei (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Spider mites are considered as a potential threat to varying agricultural crops across the globe. Among agriculturally important spider mite species, Tetranychus urticae Koch and macfarlanei Baker Pritchard severely affect crop production incur heavy yield loss in agriculture sector. As an ecofriendly pest management strategy, biocontrol using phytoseiid predatory gaining significant attention over past few decades. Evaluation of prey stage preference could provide invaluable information on efficiency any predators. Feeding experiments were conducted mite, Neoseiulus longispinosus (Evans) mulberry leaf discs under laboratory conditions 30±2ºC, 70±5% Relative Humidity (RH) photoperiod 11 L: 14 D h. After 24 hr feeding experiment, nymph adult female predator exhibited towards eggs T. macfarlanei. The larval was found be non-feeding, thus excluded from experiment. order different life stages both species identified egg>nymph>larva>adult. On contrary, nymphal trend recorded egg>larva>nymph>adult. For macfarlanei, same egg>larva=nymph>adult. Surprisingly, irrespective differences, N. hardly consumed adults.