STUDY OF PREY PREFERENCE AND PREDATION RATE OF STETHORUS GILVIFRONS AS A PREDATOR ON THRIPS TABACI AND TETRANYCHUS URTICAE KOCH ON BEAN UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS

Using natural enemies as control mites and thrips is an important objective of integrated pest management. Prey preference and predation rate of natural enemies is one of the phenomena that should be considered for reviewing efficiency of natural enemies. Stethorus gilvifrons is one of predator mites on crops and orchard.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experiment, preference and predation rate S. gilvifrons on Tetranychus urticae and Thrips tabaci. The experiments carried out in 26±1 Ċ and 60±5 % RH, and a photoperiod of 14L: 10D. After 4 hours number of eaten preys was recorded. Prey density at predation rate and preferred prey were 20 and 25, respectively.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Results showed that the number of mites eaten by a predation rate average 13.8 and 18 is at prey preference. The number of thrips eaten in predation rate on average, 11.1 and the host preference is 15.9. According to averages feeding of spider mites was higher than thrips.

کلیدواژه ها:

Stethorus gilvifrons ، Predation rate ، host preference ، spider mite ، Thrips tabaci