Reaction of the predacious mite, Amblyseius gossipi to three varieties of Bacillus thuringiensis under laboratory conditions ( Acari; Phytoseiidae)

Abstract

Females of the predacious mite Amblyseius gossipi El-Badry were confined on pollen grains incorporated with Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis, Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki and Bacillus thuringiensis var. thuringiensis for various periods of time. Mortality was low with the three varieties, although reproduction decreased in case of var. israelensis and var. thuringiensis. Increasing the time of feeding incorporated diet with var. israelensis decreased the number of eggs/*/day. There was no effect on the development or the survival when ingested pollens with var. israelensis, although females reproduced at lower rate when compared with the control.