Predation Preference and Fecundity Potential of Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to Tetranychus turkestani (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Tetranychus truncatus (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Xinjiang is the largest cotton producing areas in China as well as in the world, where spider mites are dominant pests greatly damaging cotton production.N. californicus is an important predatory mite.To evaluate control potential for N. californicus to act as a bio-agent in Xinjiang main cotton regions, the functional response and preference experiments were conducted with N. californicus to two main local spider mites: T. turkestani and T. truncatus.The results revealed that the predatory capacity of N. californicus on T. turkestani was higher than that on T. truncatus at various prey densities and ratios treatments.Both functional responses followed a Holling-Ⅱtype by logistic regression model analysis.Manly's preference index of N. californicus indicated that T. turkestani was the preferable prey at all ratios and prey densities tested.The attack rate of N. californicus on T. turkestani (0.766) was greater than T. truncatus (0.444) and the handling time on T. turkestani (0.122) was shorter than T. truncatus (0.197).The fecundity parameters of life tables for experimental populations of N. californicus preying on T. turkestani and T. truncatus were examined.The values indicated that N. californicus population developed faster and had a higher reproductive rate when feeding on T. turkestani than on T. truncatate.All experimental data showed that N. californicus could be a good bio-control agent for mite control of Xinjiang main cotton regions.