Spider mite predators

Predators Attacking Spider Mite Prey

Predator Mite

©2000. Ralph E. Berry,Department of Entomology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR.

Predator mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) feed on injurious plant-feeding mites, particularly twospotted spider mite. Predator mites are 0.25 to 0.5 mm long, shiny, white-gray or yellow. Predator mites eat 80 to 90 prey mites during their development. Females lay about 33 eggs during her lifetime. The life cycle from egg to adult requires about 7 to 10 days and there are at least 10 generations each year. Female predator mites produce about the same number of eggs as the prey and, if carefully managed, will maintain plant-feeding mites at low populations.

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