THE INFLUENCE OF PREY DENSITY, RELATIVE HUMIDITY, AND STARVATION ON THE PREDACIOUS BEHAVIOR OF PHYTOSEIULUS PERSIMILIS ATHIAS-HENRIOT (ACARINA: PHYTOSEIIDAE)

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Abstract
The functional response of the predacious mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot was tested at various densities of Tetranychus urticae (Koch), a prey species, and at several levels of humidity and hunger. The consumption of adult prey per predator rose at first with increasing prey density, but significantly decreased at high densities. This phenomenon was caused by an increase in abandonment of captures resulting from disturbance by other prey at high prey densities. Egg consumption by the predator increased with prey density.Prey consumption was greater at low than at high humidities. A significant increase in the rate of repeat feeding was found at higher levels of predator hunger, but the differences in consumption of prey between the three levels of hunger were not significant.