Biology and life tables of the predatory mite (Neoseiulus longispinosus) on different developmental stages of the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) on carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) cultivars.

The phytoseiid mite, Neoseiulus longispinosus (Evans) is considered as one of the effective biological control agents against the tetranychid mites in the Indian subcontinent. This predator can be effectively utilized to manage the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch under protected conditions. Carnation holds a significantly important position as cut flower crop in India as well as throughout the world. In this study, the biology and population growth parameters of predatory mite were studied against three different stages of T. urticae on three different cultivars of carnation viz., Kleos, Bizet and Baltico. The predator was able to complete its life cycle on all the offered stages of the prey and on all the three cultivars. The results indicated that the biology was not much affected by the different cultivars. However, the cultivar Bizet was found to be slightly better for the development of the predatory mite as the maximum fecundity (62.26 eggs/female) was recorded on this cultivar. Although numerically higher fecundity was observed on Bizet, no statistically significant superiority was found. Among the different stages of prey fed to the predator i.e., egg, protonymph and deutonymph, the predator showed better biology and population growth parameters on egg stage compared to both protonymphal and deutonymphal stages of T. urticae.