studies ob biological aspects of predaceous mite cunaza setirostris on tetranychus ludeni at laboratory coditions in varanasi, india

the feeding habit and developmental stages of cunaxa setriostris (hermann) on most injurious mite, tetranychus ludeni zacher was investigated in varanasi region, uttar pradesh, india. the female of c. setirostris as a dominant species of cunaxid mite completed its life cycle on t. ludeni within 27.5 ± 13.55 days having one larval followed by three nymphal stages. whereas, the male sex of the same, attained earlier maturity within 23.26 ± 2.21 days, having one larval with two nymphal stages only. the maximum 87% prey consumption was recorded during oviposition period of 44.60 ± 12.81 days with an average fecundity of 132 ± 40.60 eggs. the total mortality during developmental period of this predator was approximately 80 percent with maximum record of 48%) mortality during larval period only.