Biology and efficacy of the predatory mite, Amblyseius longispinosus (Evans) (Acari, Phytoseiidae) as a biological control agent of Eotetranychus cendanai Rimando (Acari, Tetranychidae)

Egg. larval, protonymphal and deutonymphal stages of Amblyseius longispinosus (Evans) that fed on Eotetranychus cendanai, required 2.02 +/- 0.13, 0.57 +/- 0.17, 1.07 +/- 0.31 and 1.16 +/- 0.53 days, respectively. The total developmental time was 4.79 +/- 0.61 days. Female longevity averaged 14.61 +/- 2.88 days in which 19.54 +/- 6.36 eggs/female or 1.33 +/- 0.29 eggs/female per day were laid. The highest predation rate was detected at a prey density of 40-50. Amblyseius longispinosus could be employed as the biological control agent of E. cendanai both in laboratory and greenhouse conditions at the predator : prey ratio of 1 : 30 to 1 : 50.