Biology and predatory efficiency of two phytoseiid mites as affected by long-term pollen feeding

Abstract

The predatory mites,Amblyseius gossypi Elbadry andPhytoseius plumifer (Canestrini & Fanzago) successfully went through three generations on a diet of castor-oil pollen and were able to return to their natural prey,Tetranychus arabicus Attiah, apparently unaffected in a way except for a reduction in the predatory efficiency of adultA. gossypi.