RESPONSES OF NEOSEIULUS FALIACIS (ACARINA: PHYTOSEIIDAE) TO DIFFERENT PREY DENSITIES OF OLIGONYCHUS UNUNGUIS (ACARINA: TETRANYCHIDAE) AND TO DIFFERENT RELATIVE HUMIDITY REGIMES

Abstract

AbstractThe effectiveness of the phytoseiid predator Neoseiulus fallacis in controlling population growth of the spruce spider mite, Oligonychus ununguis was examined in the laboratory. Development and fecundity of N. fallacis under various relative humidity levels were also studied. Under controlled conditions, N. fallacis significantly limited population growth of O. ununguis on Fraser fir seedlings. Survival, development, and fecundity of N. fallacis were similar for all relative humidity ranges tested, except at the lowest range (60–65%), in which none of the individuals survived to maturity.