Suitability of pollen as an alternative food source for different developmental stages of Amblyseius herbicolus (Chant) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to facilitate predation on whitefly eggs

Alternative food sources could sustain predator populations by influencing their performances including predation, development, and reproduction in periods of shortage or scarcity prey under laboratory fields conditions. The aim this study was to explore suitability cattail pollen (Typha orientalis) as an alternative source for different stages Amblyseius herbicolus (Chant) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on predation capacity against the eggs whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), developmental reproductive responses predators diet switching regimes conditions (T1: nymphs early adults fed pollen; T2: but eggs; T3: T4: eggs). Results experiment revealed that although A. all treatment groups, predatory mites obviously differed target pest when during stages. group T2 highest average rate, being 1.31, 1.17, 1.49 times those groups T1, T3, T4, respectively. Our results indicated were suitable herbicolus, because it able develop from egg adult females groups. mixed diets (T2 T3 groups) positive effects parameters females, leading higher oviposition rates shorter durations compared with T1 T4. (1.32, 1.26, 1.81 respectively); however, no significant differences observed between All succeeded reaching adulthood, duration time among four longest shortest obtained T4 present demonstrated can T. eggs, additional high nutritional value mite enhance towards successfully complete its immature development well reproduction.