Voracity and feeding preferences of larvae and adult stages of Stethorus gilvifrons Mulsant. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on larvae and adult of Oligonychus afrasiaticus McGregor (Acarina: Tetranychida

ABSTRACT : Voracity and feeding preferences of adult and larvae Stethorus gilvifrons were evaluated in the laboratory on the Date Palm spider mite, Oligonychus afrasiaticus Larvae and adult life stages a prey previously recorded for this predator. The experiments were carried out in the laboratory on date offshoots (Phoenix dactylifera L.). Adult of S. gilvifrons consumed significantly more mites than Larvae. The predator adults consumed 33.67 and 21.33, whereas predator larvae consumed 32.33 and 19.67 adults and larvae of 40 spider mites respectively in 24 h. The two life stages of predator coccinellid showed a significant preference for adults O. afrasiaticus in the presence of its larvae. This preference was more pronounced for adults of S. gilvifrons. The total number of prey consumed decreased significantly for predator adult and Larvae as the number of larvae mites increased in the prey ratio. Our results suggest that O. afrasiaticus larvae is an alternative prey for predator, and that adults of S. gilvifrons should be more efficient than its larvae in a prey assemblage with Larvae and adult of mite.