Biological parameters of Cydnodromus picanus and Phytoseiulus persimilis raised on the carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Acari: Phytoseiidae, Tetranychidae)

the postembryonic development, consumption and life table parameters of cydnodromus picanus ragusa and phytoseiulus persimilis (athias-henriot) were studied at 29.44 ± 1.47 °c and 42.35 ± 5.01% of rh with a photoperiod of 14:10 h (l:d) in order to evaluate the potential of these predators for feeding on the carmine spider mite tetranychus cinnabarinus (boisduval). eggs, larvae and protonymphs of t cinnabarinus may be optimal food for c. picanus, which obtained survival rates of 100%, 97% and 93%, respectively, on them. the survival of p persimilis was around 6.7% with diets based on eggs, larvae and protonymphs, showing a high mortality level by dehydration when fed with eggs. the time of the postembryonic development was significantly shorter (p < 0.05) for c. picanus than for p persimilis when they were fed with eggs, larvae and deutonymphs of t cinnabarinus. when fed with eggs and a combination of different stages of t cinnabarinus, the intrinsic rate of growth (rm) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) for c. picanus (0.289 and 0.307, respectively) than for p. persimilis (0.019 and 0.025, respectively). the values of the imite rate of growth (rm) were also significantly (p < 0.05) higher for c. picanus (1.34 and 1.36) than for p persimilis (1.02 and 1.03) when they were nourished with eggs and a mixed diet, respectively. the high values of rm and λ found for c. picanus in the experimental conditions are indicators of the possible control that this phytoseiid mite, as a predator of t cinnabarinus, would potentially offer under the conditions of lower relative humidity encountered in the arid zone of the desert of chile.