POSSIBILITY OF UTILIZING THE PREDATORY MITE, NEOSEIULUS CALIFORNICUS (MCGREGOR) (ACARI: PHYTOSEIIDAE) FOR CONTROLLING TWO ERIOPHYOID FIG MITES, ACERIA FICUS (COTTE) AND RHYNCAPHYTOPTUS FICIFOLIAE KEIFER (ACARI: ERIOPHYIDEA)

The life history and predation rate of the predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) on fig bud mite, Aceria ficus (Cotte) and fig leaf mite, Rhyncaphytoptus ficifoliae Keifer, were studied separately at 25°C and 60–70% R.H. The predatory mite completed its life span when fed on the mentioned mites. The predation rate, life cycle, and oviposition periods varied depending on type of prey. The development was quickest and number of prey consumed was highest when individuals were maintained on A. ficus, compared with R. ficifoliae. The sex ratio (female: male) was slightly lower on A. ficus as prey than on R. ficifoliae where it was 2.0:1 and 2.1:0.9, respectively.The average number of eggs/female/day was 2.98 and 1.67 with total average 37.2 and 23.2 egg on fig bud and fig leaf mites, respectively. The total average of prey consumed by predatory mite were 265.7 & 239.3 and 236.4 & 211 individual for female and male when fed movable stages of A. ficus and R. ficifoliae , respectively.