Polyandry, i.e. females mating with multiple males, is more common than previously anticipated and potentially provides both direct and indirect fitness benefits to females. The level of polyandry (defined by the lifetime number of male mates of a female) is an important determinant of the occurrence and intensity of sexual selection acting on male phenotypes. While the forces of sexual selecti...

Phytoseiid mites have been considered the most promising predators for control of pest and small insects. Their use in solanaceous crops biological major mite pests represents an important challenge requires continued research. This study aimed at investigating phytoseiid species their associated phytophagous on eggplant (Solanum melongena), tomato lycopersicum) black nightshade nigrum) Syrian ...

Predators frequently compete with other species for prey but can also interact by preying on each other’s vulnerable stages. Because eggs and juveniles are more to this intraguild predation than adults, their survival will depend maternal strategies reduce risk. Recently, we reported that adult female predatory mites Gynaeseius liturivorus Ehara (Acari: Phytoseiidae) remaining at oviposition si...

Ecological communities used in biological pest control are usually represented as three-trophic level food chains with top-down control. However, at least two factors complicate this simple way of characterizing agricultural communities. First, agro-ecosystems are composed of several interacting species forming complicated food webs. Second, the structure of agricultural communities may vary in...

Predation is a major selective force for the evolution of behavioural characteristics of prey. Predation among consumers competing for food is termed intraguild predation (IGP). From the perspective of individual prey, IGP differs from classical predation in the likelihood of occurrence because IG prey is usually more rarely encountered and less profitable because it is more difficult to handle...