Experimental and Applied Acarology (1996) 20, 259-271

F.E. Nwilene and G. Nachman (1996)
Functional responses of Iphiseius degenerans and Neoseiulus teke (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to changes in the density of the cassava green mite, Mononychellus tanajoa (Acari: Tetranychidae)
Experimental and Applied Acarology 20 (5), 259-271
Abstract: The functional responses of protonymph and adult female Iphiseius degenerans and Neoseiulus teke to increasing density of three stages of their prey, the cassava green mite (CGM), Mononychellus tanajoa, were studied on excised cassava leaf discs under laboratory conditions. The responses obtained were predominantly sigmoid type III curves with the highest plateau when both stages of I. degenerans and N. teke were preying on CGM eggs. In all cases, the predation rate of the former species exceeded that of the latter. The empirical data were fitted by four different models. From the models, the attack coefficient (a ') and handling time (T _h) were estimated. For a given predator stage (protonymph or adult female), the predator's attack coefficient declines and handling time increases as the prey gets larger. For a given prey stage, the predator's attack coefficient increases and handling time decreases as the predator stage becomes larger.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Francis E. Nwilene, Gösta Nachman

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Mononychellus tanajoa
Iphiseius degenerans (predator)	Mononychellus tanajoa
Neoseiulus teke (predator)	Mononychellus tanajoa