Predation on heterospecific larvae by adult females of Kampimodromus aberrans, Amblyseius andersoni, Typhlodromus pyri and Phytoseius finitimus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

The predatory mites Kampimodromus aberrans (Oudemans), Amblyseius andersoni (Chant), Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten and Phytoseius finitimus Ribaga are important biological control agents in orchards and vineyards in Europe and elsewhere. They can coexist in the same habitat and engage in intraguild predation (IGP). In the laboratory we evaluated biological parameters of these predatory mites fed with heterospecific larvae considered as intraguild prey (IG-prey). Results suggest that A. andersoni should be considered the superior intraguild predator, while Phytoseius finitimus appeared to suffer from intraguild predation. The profiles of K. aberrans and T. pyri were less definite.