The effect of pollen feeding on the predatory efficiency of Amblyseius gossipi (Acarina: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract

A positive correlation between rate of prey consumption by A. gossipi and the prey density T. cinnabarinus was found at presence or absence of pollen of Zea mays. Pollen had no effect on prey consumption at prey concentrations of 5 and 10 per predator, but less prey was consumed in the presence of pollen at prey density of 15 per predator. A. gossipi does not reject mite prey in favour of pollen when present. Egg production was increased by 16.8% and 18% at density 15/leaf in presence of heavy and light pollen respectively.