The Feeding Behavior and Biology of Parapronematus acaciae (Acarina: Tydeidae)

Although the tydeid mite, Parapronematus acaciae Baker, was previously reported as being a predator of the citrus rust mite, Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead), laboratory studies proved it was not a predator of P. oleivora, the citrus red mite, Panonychus citri (McGregor), or the Texas citrus mite, Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor). However, four complete generations of P. acaciae were reared on Penicillium digitatum Sacc. and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penzig, two common leaf-inhabiting fungi. One generation from egg to adult took approximately 15-18 days at a temperature of 25 @+ 2@* C. Larvae fed readily on the fungi, as did what appeared to be the two nymphal stages. Prospects for the biological control of the citrus rust mite are also discussed.