The soybean (Glycine max (L. )

Mites and insects cause damage to soybean crops (Glycine max (L.): Fabaceae). Mononychellus planki McGregor, Tetranychus ludeni Zacher (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Caliothrips phaseoli Hood (Insecta: Thripidae) have been mentioned as pests of soybean crops in Brazil, while Neoseiulus californicus McGregor (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is considered a generalist predatory mite. This work aimed to determine the biological parameters of N. californicus feeding on T. ludeni, M. planki and C. phaseoli on transgenic soybean leaves. Thirty N. californicus eggs were individually placed in arenas with T. ludeni, M. planki and C. phaseoli. Egg-to-adult duration (in days) was longest when fed T. ludeni (5.52±0.06) and shortest when fed C. phaseoli (4.89±0.06). Mean fertility was approximately 32 eggs/female and did not differ significantly when N. californicus fed on T. ludeni or M. planki. During the adult stage, N. californicus did not lay eggs when feeding on C. phaseoli and survived for only a few days. The net reproductive rate (Ro) of N. californicus was larger when fed T. ludeni (20.30±0.68) than M. planki (14.66±0.29). Both M. planki and T. ludeni were suitable prey for N. californicus, while C. phaseoli was not.

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Aculus taihangensis is a potential biological control agent of Ailanthus altissima (Miller) Swingle. However, predatory mites found in Europe may affect the action of this eriophyid agent. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the biology of two predatory mites, Euseius stipulatus and Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) exhilaratus, feeding on A. taihangensis. Rearing stocks were maintained in germination chambers at 25 ± 1 °C, with 12 hours of photophase and relative humidity 70 ± 5%. Of 40 individualized T. (T.) exhilaratus eggs, only 37.5% achieved adulthood, while viability of E. stipulatus was 87.5%. The mean fecundity was 18 eggs/ female. Both predatory mites evaluated in this study feed on A. taihangensis. However, only E. stipulatus seems to be an efficient predator, capable of controlling A. taihangensis.

Schizotetranychus oryzae Rossi de Simons attains pest level in rice crops. This study aimed to evaluate the biological features of Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) feeding on S. oryzae on leaves of flooded rice. We also evaluated N. californicus behavior in response to S. oryzae and conspecific cues. Thirty-two eggs were individually placed in arenas on rice leaves and fed on S. oryzae for the biological test. Three cultivars were used to test the behavior of N. californicus in response to S. oryzae and conspecific cues. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) of the predator feeding on S. oryzae was 0.21 female/female/day. Schizotetranychus oryzae was considered a suitable prey for N. californicus under laboratory conditions. The results obtained in behavioral tests showed that N. californicus preferred laying eggs on leaves uninfested by S. oryzae and it did not show oviposition preference in arenas with conspecific predator cues. This predator was found in all rice cultivation areas in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Neoseiulus californicus proved to be a control agent for S. oryzae.