Abstract

                                Investigations were carried out to study the influence of bhendi spider mites on the biological attributes of C. z. sillemi in comparison with Corcyra cephalonica and also to study the immature stages of spider mites and C. cephalonica egg as prey on the biology of C. z. sillemi. The impact of immature stages of spider mites as larval food of C. z. sillemi revealed that mite nymphs can be used as an alternate host to culture C. z. sillemi as compared to other stages. However C. cephalonica eggs were superior to mite nymphs The larval duration of C. z. sillemi increased when cultured on adult mites. The larval period was longer on mite nymphs (10.15 days) than on C. cephalonica eggs (8.57 days).The larval duration, pupal period, total developmental period, adult longevity, fecundity of C. z. sillemi and per cent hatchability of C. z. sillemi eggs were more when adults of spider mites were provided to the larval stages of C. z. sillemi as compared to C.cephalonica eggs as food.

Key words : C. z. sillemi , C. cephalonica eggs, Tetranychus urticae Koch