Description
Fallacis Mite- Neoseiulus (Amblyseius) fallacis is a generalist predatory mite that feeds on all life stages of Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae), European red mite (Panonychus ulmi), Spruce Spider mite (Oligonychus ununguis), Southern red mite (Oligonychus ilicis), Bamboo mite (Schizotetranychus celarius), and other pest mites
The eggs are oval and 0.3 mm long. The adults have pear shaped bodies are tan or light orange, 0.5 mm long, with 4 pairs of long legs. Immature predators are cream coloured and semi-transparent.
Development from egg to adult takes from 7-9 days at 21°C (70°F) to 3 days at 32°C (85°F). Under ideal conditions, populations can increase from 10 predators/100 leaves to 500 predators/100 leaves, in 2 weeks.
• Adult females lay 1-5 eggs per day, for a total of 26-60 eggs over their 14-62 day life time. The eggs hatch in 2-3 days. Eggs are oval and twice the size of two-spotted mite eggs.
• Female Fallacis eat 2-16 spider mites per day.
• Adult females enter diapause in the short days of the fall season (daylight of 14 hours or less). They do not enter diapause in greenhouses if the temperature is above 18°C (64°F).
