Why does the predatory mite Neoseiulus womersleyi Schicha (Acari: Phytoseiidae) prefer spider mite eggs to adults?

• Published in: Applied Entomology and Zoology Vol. 40; no. 4; pp. 675 - 678
• Main Authors: Furuichi, Hiromi, Oku, Keiko, Yano, Shuichi, Takafuji, Akio, Osakabe, Masahiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: JAPANESE SOCIETY OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY 2005
• Subjects: Acari; Araneae; Neoseiulus womersleyi; Phytoseiidae; prey preference; Tetranychidae; Tetranychus kanzawai; Tetranychus urticae

Adult female Neoseiulus womersleyi feed on all stages of tetranychid mites, although they show a strong preference for eggs over adult females when both are available. We found that the oviposition rate of N. womersleyi females supplied with eggs of Tetranychus kanzawai or T. urticae was significant...