Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2007
The effect of diet on the biology of the predatory mite Amblyseius denmarki Zaher & El-Borolosy (Acari: Phytoseiidae) was studied in the laboratory. Predatory mites fed on the eriophyid mites eriophyes dioscoridis, E. olivi and Cisaberoptus kenyae had a faster development, higher fecundity and a more female-biased sex ratio than those fed on the other diets tested, namely pollen of the palm Phoenix dactylifera, the scale insect Parlatoria ziziphus and the whitefly Bemisia tabaci.