First report on suitability of the tomato borerTuta absolutaeggs (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) for eight predatory phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) under laboratory conditions

Eight phytoseiid species were tested to evaluate their potential as predators of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) eggs as an alternative/natural food source under laboratory conditions. Predatory phytoseiid mites were, namely: Typhlodromips swirskii (Athias-Henriot), Euseius scutalis (Athias-Henriot), Cydnoseius negevi (Swirski and Amitai), Neoseiulus barkeri (Hughes), Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor), Phytoseius finitimus Ribaga, Proprioseiopsis badri (Yousef and El-Borolossy) and Amblyseius largoensis (Muma).Immatures survival of tested phytoseiid species were low on eggs of T. absoluta and all failed to develop to adulthood.Adult females of C. negevi, A. largoensis and N. barkeri were able to feed and sustain oviposition on eggs of T. absoluta. A diet of insect eggs provided the shortest oviposition period and adult longevity of C. negevi, while A. largoensis showed the longest corresponding periods. The total and daily number of insect eggs consumed was significantly higher in N. barkeri and C. negevi than in A. largoensis. Similarly N. barkeri laid significantly higher number of eggs (47.39 eggs/female) than that deposited by C. negevi and A. largoensis (41.0 and 30.7 eggs / female). The sex ratio of the progeny was strongly female biased and ranged: (females/total=61.8−75.4%) when insect eggs were provided for C. negevi, N. barkeri and A. largoensis.Survival of adult females of T. swirskii, P. badri, N. californicus, E. scutalis and P. finitimus were low on T. absoluta eggs and all died within 2–4 days.