Life-history traits of the predacious mite Euseius scutalis (Athias-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on eggs of three insects (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Life history and reproductive parameters of the predatory mite Euseius scutalis (Athias-Henriot) were studied, to evaluate its potential as a predator of Spodoptera littoralis Boisduval, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner) and Agrotis ipsilon (hufnagel) eggs as an alternative food substance in the laboratory. Total developmental time of the immature stages was the shortest on eggs of S. littoralis , and the longest on eggs of A. ipsilon . Fecundity was highest on eggs of S. littoralis and S. exigua (19.8 eggs/female, 1.25 eggs/female/day and 18.22 eggs/female, 1.27 eggs/female/day) and lowest on A. epsilon eggs (9.0 eggs/female, 0.90 eggs/female/day). A diet of S. littoralis eggs showed a relatively higher values of the net reproductive rate (Ro = 10.945), intrinsic rate of increase (rm = 0.14644) and finite rate of increase (λ = 1.1577 per day) than eggs of S. exigua and A. ipsilon . A diet of A. ipsilon eggs resulted shortest female longevity and lowest total fecundity which resulted in the lowest net reproductive rate (Ro = 5.40), intrinsic rate of increase (rm = 0.10078) and finite rate of increase (λ = 1.106) per day for E. scutalis