ANBAR JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

Abstract

Abstract
The effect of different densities of the mealy bug Nipaecoccus vastator (Maskell) egg on the growth, development rates and predation efficiency of larvae of the Dicrodiplosis manihoti Harris was studied in laboratory under 30ْc and 60±5% relative humidity. The results revealed that the densities 5, 10, 15, 20 and 40 eggs of prey had a significant effect on the rate of development period of predator larvae, which reached to 16, 13, 10.8, 9.8 and 9.1 day respectively. Meanwhile, the daily predation rates increased significantly according to increasing of egg densities. The concluded results indicated that the feeding of larva of predator on the highest density of the prey eggs achieved the highest rates for growth, development and predation of the larvae in comparison with lower densities of eggs.