mostafa khanamani

In this study, life table were performed to evaluate the nutritional value of proso millet and saffron pollen grains as a dietary supplement for rearing and conservation of Neoseiulus cucumeris Oudemans and Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae). According to our result, developmental time did not differ between the two pollen diets for either predatory mite. A. swirskii completed immature development significantly faster than N. cucumeris on both pollen diet tested. Fecundity of both predator females offered saffron pollen was significantly higher than that of females given proso millet pollen, however, N. cucumeris females had higher fecundity than A. swirskii females. Comparisons between two predators indicated that N. cucumeris females had a higher R0, GRR, r, and λ than A. swirskii on saffron and proso millet pollen. There were no significant differences in intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) of N. cucumeris between the two pollen diets, although significantly higher values of r and λ were observed in A. swirskii reread on saffron pollen than those fed on proso millet pollen. This suggests that saffron and proso millet pollen could be a viable alternative food source for these predators, particularly during times when prey in the field are scarce or absent. Additionally, our results indicate that saffron pollen can be effectively used for mass rearing and/or conservation of these predatory mites in biological programs.