Abstract :
The efficiency of Agistemus exsertus Gonzalez was studied on Ephestia cautella (Walker) eggs as the food source in laboratory at two temperatures 25 °C and 30°C. Although a predatory successfully completed its life cycle exclusively on this prey, the rate of predation, life cycle, and oviposition were varied under different temperatures, whereas the predation rate listed 48 egg/individual and 57.71 egg / individuals at 25 °C and 30 °C, respectively, while the life cycle period was durated 16.05 days and 11.93 days, respectively. At the same previous conditions, the oviposition rate was durated 2.28 egg/day and 3.11 egg/day, respectively. Therefore, the predatory mite could play an important role in checking the population of Lepidopteran pest.
Keywords :
Biological control , Laboratory , Stigmaeid mites , Egypt , Date palm
