有益真绥螨与巴氏新小绥螨的集团内捕食和同类相残作用

【目的】有益真绥螨Euseius utilis是北方地区广泛分布的一种多食性植绥螨,而巴氏新小绥螨Neoseiulus barkeri目前在我国广泛应用于农业害虫的生物防治中。本研究旨在对巴氏新小绥螨在本地的应用进行风险评估及为与有益真绥螨的联合释放提供依据。【方法】本研究在室内通过一系列实验,比较了实验室饲养的巴氏新小绥螨和采自内蒙古农业大学校园的有益真绥螨的雌成螨对同种或异种未成熟螨的捕食量、存活时间及产卵量的差异,检测了有益真绥螨与巴氏新小绥螨两种植绥螨相互之间的攻击强度以及种内和种间的相互作用。【结果】两种植绥螨都难以刺吸同种或异种植绥螨的卵,而对同种或异种植绥螨幼螨的捕食量最大,其次是对若螨。在无共同食物的情况下,有益真绥螨雌成螨对同种植绥螨幼螨的攻击性比对异种植绥螨幼螨的攻击性强(BreslowDay检验:χ~2=13.84,df=1,P0.001),且有益真绥螨对同种植绥螨幼螨的捕食量(9.10±1.65头)高于对异种植绥螨幼螨的捕食量(5.31±1.43头)(T检验:t=5.487,P0.001),巴氏新小绥螨对异种植绥螨幼螨的捕食量(7.48±0.75头)高于对同种植绥螨幼螨的捕食量(4.75±0.58头)(T检验:t=9.110,P0.05)。【结论】有益真绥螨更倾向于捕食同种幼螨而发生同类相残;巴氏新小绥螨更倾向于捕食异种幼螨而发生集团内捕食。     

两种植绥螨种内和种间捕食及适合度

【目的】通过研究斯氏钝绥螨Amblyseius(Typhlodromips)swirskii和胡瓜新小绥螨Neoseiulus cucumeris这两种外来植绥螨种内和种间的捕食关系及适合度,为斯氏钝绥螨的释放应用前的风险评估及与胡瓜新小绥螨的联合释放技术提供理论依据。【方法】在无共享猎物的条件下,分别为两种雌成螨提供同种和异种的卵、同种和异种的幼螨、同种和异种的若螨,测定其对同种和异种不同个体的捕食选择性及捕食量,并比较两种植绥螨捕食后的适合度（产卵率和存活率）的差异。【结果】两种植绥螨互为捕食者,斯氏钝绥螨为集团内捕食者的几率高于胡瓜新小绥螨;两种植绥螨发生同类相残的几率无显著差异（χ²=0.118,df=1,P=0.732）。两种植绥螨对幼螨的捕食量显著高于对若螨、卵的捕食量（斯氏钝绥螨：F_(2,114)=66.27,P<0.0001;胡瓜新小绥螨：F_(2,114)=50.39,P<0.0001）,而且两种植绥螨对异种幼螨和若螨的捕食量均显著高于对同种个体的捕食量。两种植绥螨捕食幼螨后的产卵率均显著高于捕食若螨后的产卵率（斯氏钝绥螨：t=5.774,df=26,P<0.0001;胡瓜新小绥螨：t=3.334,df=26,P=0.0026）,斯氏钝绥螨捕食异种个体后的产卵率显著高于捕食同种个体后的产卵率（t=2.854,df=26,P=0.008 4）。两种植绥螨捕食不同发育阶段（幼螨和若螨）的存活率无显著差异;但斯氏钝绥螨捕食异种个体后的存活率显著高于捕食同种个体后的存活率（t=2.196,df=26,P=0.0372）。【结论】两种植绥螨更倾向于发生交互集团内捕食作用而非同类相残;两种植绥螨捕食幼螨比捕食若螨更利于产卵;对于斯氏钝绥螨,异种个体是比同种个体更适合的食物来源。     

两种植绥螨的同类相残和集团内捕食作用

巴氏新小绥螨(Neoseiulus barkeri)和黄瓜新小绥螨(N.cucumeris)是两种多食性植绥螨,主要捕食叶螨和蓟马等,目前在我国广泛应用于农业生物防治中.本文研究了这两种植绥螨种内的同类相残(cannibalism)和种间的集团内捕食作用(intraguild predation)以及相互之间的攻击强度,以明确两者之间的相互关系,为合理构建天敌组合及评估生物防治的作用提供依据.结果显示:两种植绥螨对同种或异种幼螨的捕食量最大,其次是若螨,而对卵的捕食量极低.两种植绥螨对异种幼螨或若螨的捕食量均极显著高于对同种幼螨或若螨的捕食量.可见,无其他猎物存在情况下,两种植绥螨同时发生时更倾向于发生种间的集团内捕食.而巴氏新小绥螨对异种幼螨或若螨的捕食量均高于黄瓜新小绥螨对异种幼螨或若螨的捕食量,并且巴氏新小绥螨和黄瓜新小绥螨相比,巴氏新小绥螨对异种幼螨的攻击性更强,因此当这两种植绥螨发生集团内捕食时,巴氏新小绥螨是潜在的集团内捕食者,而黄瓜新小绥螨是潜在的集团内猎物.     

西花蓟马、二斑叶螨与黄瓜新小绥螨的相互关系研究

西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis（Pergande）和二斑叶螨Tetranychus urticae Koch是温室花卉与蔬菜上的重要害虫（螨）。植物常被两者同时危害。黄瓜新小绥螨Amblyseius cucumeris（Oudemans）是世界上广泛应用的温室蓟马的生物防治物,有时也被用来防治二斑叶螨。本研究中,在人工气候室盆栽条件下利用黄瓜新小绥螨防治西花蓟马和/或二斑叶螨。结果显示,当每豆株上接入10或20头二斑叶螨时,按照1∶4的益害比释放黄瓜新小绥螨可有效控制二斑叶螨。同样密度比的情况下,5和10头黄瓜新小绥螨的释放量可显著控制西花蓟马的接入量。二斑叶螨密度的增加没有显著影响到黄瓜新小绥螨对西花蓟马的控制作用。西花蓟马可捕食黄瓜新小绥螨的卵,日捕食量达1.2粒。本文对利用黄瓜新小绥螨防治温室中西花蓟马进行了讨论。     

两种捕食螨对苹果园叶螨的控制效果

【目的】以螨治螨是害虫生物防治的一个重要部分,也是果园害虫生态控制的重要措施。通过在苹果园人为释放捕食螨的方法,定量分析加州新小绥螨Neoseiulus californicus(McGregor)和东方钝绥螨Amblyseiusorientalis(Ehara)对苹果园2种害螨(苹果全爪螨Panonychusulmi(Koch)和山楂叶螨TetranychusviennensisZacher)捕食效果,为开展果园害虫生态调控提供科学依据。【方法】于2019年5-10月份在胶东半岛烟台市牟平区果园中释放加州新小绥螨和东方钝绥螨,比较分析释放捕食螨区域与对照苹果树上苹果全爪螨和山楂叶螨种群数量的变化。【结果】2种捕食螨均能适应当地果园生态环境,释放后能够迅速发挥控害作用。其中,加州新小绥螨对叶螨的控制作用达到84.8%-100%,东方钝绥螨对叶螨的控制作用达到90%-100%,且东方钝绥螨的防治效果略优于加州新小绥螨。【结论】加州新小绥螨和东方钝绥螨2种捕食螨在胶东半岛对苹果叶螨防控效果比较理想,均可作为苹果园叶螨生物防治的天敌。     

光照时间对双尾新小绥螨生长发育及种群参数的影响

【目的】为了进一步明确光照时间对双尾新小绥螨Neoseiulus bicaudus Wainstein生长发育的影响。【方法】在实验室恒温条件下,采用生命表研究方法,研究在不同光照时间下,双尾新小绥螨捕食土耳其斯坦叶螨的生长发育情况。【结果】双尾新小绥螨在不同光照时间段下均能完成世代周期。在光照时数小于12 h时,从卵发育至成螨的各个发育阶段所需时间均呈缩短趋势,当光照时数大于16 h后各个发育阶段所需的时间又呈增长趋势。产卵期在12L︰12D光照时数下最长为20.74 d,且同其他光照条件均存在显著性差异(P<0.05)。产卵后期、寿命、总产卵量均表现在16L︰8D光照时数下最长,分别为11.93 d、31.05 d和42.4粒。双尾新小绥螨种群的净增值率(R_0)在16L︰8D时达到最大值33.88,在8L︰16D时最低为14.97。【结论】光照时间在12~16 h范围内最适合双尾新小绥螨生长发育。     

不同猎物及密度对巴氏新小绥螨和拉戈钝绥螨同类相残和集团内捕食作用的影响

明确不同猎物及密度下巴氏新小绥螨Neoseiulus barkeri与拉戈钝绥螨Amblyseius largoensis(Muma)的同类相残和集团内捕食作用,为其协同应用控制橡胶树害螨提供依据.在室温27±1℃、湿度75％±5％、光周期12 L∶12D 条件下,以六点始叶螨 Eotetranvchus sexmaculatus(Riley)、比哈小爪螨Oligonychus biharen(Hirst)和东方真叶螨Eutetranychus orientalis(klein)为集团外猎物,观察巴氏新小绥螨和拉戈钝绥螨对集团内和集团外猎物的捕食选择行为,以及不同集团外猎物密度下两种捕食螨对同种和异种捕食螨的捕食作用.巴氏新小绥螨和拉戈钝绥螨对异种个体及集团外不同猎物的捕食偏好性及捕食时间存在明显差异.巴氏新小绥螨偏好取食集团外猎物,异种捕食螨拉戈钝绥螨残存率达到80.00％以上;拉戈钝绥螨偏好取食集团外猎物六点始叶螨和比哈小爪螨,而当东方真叶螨存在时,其更偏好取食异种捕食螨巴氏新小绥螨(残存率为26.67％);发生集团内捕食时,拉戈钝绥螨为集团内捕食者,而巴氏新小绥螨为集团内猎物.集团外猎物密度可显著影响巴氏新小绥螨和拉戈钝绥螨相残作用,尤以猎物六点始叶螨对巴氏新小绥螨和东方真叶螨对拉戈钝绥螨影响最为明显,其充足时比无猎物时捕食量分别下降了 68.85％和62.90％.巴氏新小绥螨和拉戈钝绥螨的集团内捕食分别以比哈小爪螨和六点始叶螨的影响最大,猎物充足时比无猎物时捕食量下降了 80.00％和69.44％,但拉戈钝绥螨在以东方真叶螨为猎物时集团内捕食受猎物密度影响较小,猎物充足时取食量与猎物不足时接近,比无猎物时捕食量只下降20.83％.集团外猎物六点始叶螨、比哈小爪螨存在时,巴氏新小绥螨和拉戈钝绥螨表现为偏好选择集团外猎物,密度增加对两种植绥螨的同类相残和集团内捕食作用有明显抑制作用,但东方真叶螨充足与否,拉戈钝绥螨对巴氏新小绥螨的集团内捕食作用影响差异不显著.     

斯氏钝绥螨对西花蓟马的捕食功能反应

【目的】明确斯氏钝绥螨在不同温度下对西花蓟马的捕食功能反应,为西花蓟马的生物防治提供理论依据。【方法】室内采用水琼脂培养基法,研究斯氏钝绥螨对西花蓟马的捕食功能反应。【结果】斯氏钝绥螨第一若螨对西花蓟马1龄若虫的日均捕食量随温度的升高而逐渐增加,而第二若螨、雄成螨和雌成螨的日均捕食量随温度的上升呈先增加后减少的趋势。斯氏钝绥螨雌成螨对西花蓟马1龄若虫的功能反应符合Holling-Ⅱ模型,在30℃时捕食效能达到最大,为18.146。在一定密度的西花蓟马环境下,斯氏钝绥螨雌成螨对西花蓟马1龄若虫的搜寻效应随着温度的上升而增加; 35℃时,搜寻效应下降。在西花蓟马1龄若虫的密度为30头时,斯氏钝绥螨雌成螨自身密度对西花蓟马1龄若虫的捕食具有明显的干扰作用。斯氏钝绥螨雌成螨捕食西花蓟马1龄若虫所产生的竞争属于分摊竞争。【结论】斯氏钝绥螨对西花蓟马有较好的捕食能力,其捕食功能反应符合Holling-Ⅱ模型,斯氏钝绥螨可用于西花蓟马的生物防治中。     

不同猎物及密度对巴氏新小绥螨和拉戈钝绥螨同类相残和集团内捕食作用的影响

明确不同猎物及密度下巴氏新小绥螨Neoseiulus barkeri与拉戈钝绥螨Amblyseius largoensis(Muma)的同类相残和集团内捕食作用,为其协同应用控制橡胶树害螨提供依据。在室温27±1℃、湿度75%±5%、光周期12 L:12 D条件下,以六点始叶螨Eotetranvchus sexmaculatus(Riley)、比哈小爪螨Oligonychus biharen(Hirst)和东方真叶螨Eutetranychus orientalis(klein)为集团外猎物,观察巴氏新小绥螨和拉戈钝绥螨对集团内和集团外猎物的捕食选择行为,以及不同集团外猎物密度下两种捕食螨对同种和异种捕食螨的捕食作用。巴氏新小绥螨和拉戈钝绥螨对异种个体及集团外不同猎物的捕食偏好性及捕食时间存在明显差异。巴氏新小绥螨偏好取食集团外猎物,异种捕食螨拉戈钝绥螨残存率达到80.00%以上;拉戈钝绥螨偏好取食集团外猎物六点始叶螨和比哈小爪螨,而当东方真叶螨存在时,其更偏好取食异种捕食螨巴氏新小绥螨(残存率为26.67%);发生集团内捕食时,拉戈钝绥螨为集团内捕食者,而巴氏新小绥螨为集团内猎物。集团外猎物密度可显著影响巴氏新小绥螨和拉戈钝绥螨相残作用,尤以猎物六点始叶螨对巴氏新小绥螨和东方真叶螨对拉戈钝绥螨影响最为明显,其充足时比无猎物时捕食量分别下降了68.85%和62.90%。巴氏新小绥螨和拉戈钝绥螨的集团内捕食分别以比哈小爪螨和六点始叶螨的影响最大,猎物充足时比无猎物时捕食量下降了80.00%和69.44%,但拉戈钝绥螨在以东方真叶螨为猎物时集团内捕食受猎物密度影响较小,猎物充足时取食量与猎物不足时接近,比无猎物时捕食量只下降20.83%。集团外猎物六点始叶螨、比哈小爪螨存在时,巴氏新小绥螨和拉戈钝绥螨表现为偏好选择集团外猎物,密度增加对两种植绥螨的同类相残和集团内捕食作用有明显抑制作用,但东方真叶螨充足与否,拉戈钝绥螨对巴氏新小绥螨的集团内捕食作用影响差异不显著。     

双尾新小绥螨的形态特征及捕食性功能

【目的】通过对新疆本地捕食螨双尾新小绥螨Neoseiulus bicaudus Wainstein的形态学特征观察及其对新疆农作物上两种重要害螨的捕食量测定,为该捕食螨的保护、研究、扩繁和释放提供理论基础。【方法】在实验室(26±1)℃,RH60%,16L︰8D条件下,借助显微成像系统观察其各个螨态形态特征及生物学习性;定量小室饲养技术对不同密度下对新疆两种重要害螨各螨态的捕食量进行研究。【结果】双尾新小绥螨有卵、幼螨、第一若螨、第二若螨和成螨5个螨态,嗜好阴暗条件,活动范围小,通过有性生殖进行繁殖,有多次交配行为,产卵方式为单产;单头双尾新小绥螨雌成螨每日对截形叶螨Tetranychus truncatus卵和幼螨的捕食量(106.8粒/日·雌和45.4头/日·雌)要显著大于土耳其斯坦叶螨Tetranychus turkestani(64.4粒/日·雌和39.4头/日·雌),而对两种叶螨的若螨和成螨捕食量无明显差异。【结论】本研究表明双尾新小绥螨对土耳其斯坦叶螨和截形叶螨的卵和幼螨的捕食较对若螨和成螨的效果好,对新疆害螨有一定控制能力。     

利用植绥螨防治烟粉虱的研究进展

对目前利用植绥螨防治烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)的研究现状进行综述。主要介绍植绥螨作为生防作用物的应用历史、替代食物在利用植绥螨进行生物防治中的作用,并对代表种Typhlodromips(Amblyseius)swirskiiAthias-Henriot等作为烟粉虱生防作用物的最新研究进展、产业化现状、应用前景及可能存在的问题进行了分析,以期为这些植绥螨的引进和利用提供参考。     

Biological Control of Thrips on Ornamental Crops: Interactions Between the Predatory Mite Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and Western Flower Thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), on Cyclamen

Difficulties in controlling outbreaks of Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, have obstructed the widespread adoption of biological control in many ornamental crops. The efficacy of the predatory mite, Neoseiulus cucumeris, in controlling F. occidentalis on two cultivars of cyclamen was tested in glasshouse experiments. The establishment and development of F. occidentalis populations was compared in three treatment introductions of N. cucumeris (50, 200 and 350 mites m -2 per week) and an untreated control. F. occidentalis were sampled in the flowers over eight weeks and counted into different life stages. No differences were observed between the two cultivars. All treatments with the predator resulted in a decline in numbers of F. occidentalis compared to the untreated control. Although the proportion of first instar F. occidentalis was similar in all treatments, the level of control varied with the number of N. cucumeris introduced. Lower populations of F. occidentalis, combined with a more rapid decline in their numbers, were observed at the 200 and 350 mites m -2 rates. Numbers of F. occidentalis remained low in the 350 N. cucumeris m -2 rate and the proportion of second instar F. occidentalis in the samples was consistently lower than in the other treatments. Trap counts of adult F. occidentalis were strongly correlated with the numbers of both adult and total F. occidentalis in flower samples. High inoculative releases of N. cucumeris early in the flowering cycle followed by frequent low introductions of predators should provide a strong basis for preventative control of F. occidentalis and other thrips species on cyclamen.     

Evaluation of Prey-Stage Preference as an Indicator of Life-Style Type in Phytoseiid Mites

Discriminant analysis (DA) models were developed and applied to examine the use of prey-stage preference (Tetranychus urticae Koch egg versus larval prey) in the classification of phytoseiid mites into life-style types. Prey-stage preferences and developmental times when preying on T. urticae, and relative ovipositional rates on six food categories were determined for four phytoseiid species occurring on apple in central and eastern Oregon, USA: Galendromus flumenis (Chant), Galendromus occidentalis (Nesbitt), Metaseiulus citri (Garman and McGregor) and Typhlodromus caudiglans Schuster. In terms of all three aspects studied, the phytoseiid species showed a consistent polarization of G. occidentalis < or = G. flumenis < or = T. caudiglans < M. citri. Specifically, G. occidentalis ('The Dalles' strain) had a significant preference for eggs, G. flumenis had no preference, and T. caudiglans and M. citri had significant preferences for larvae; G. occidentalis had the shortest developmental time, followed by G. flumenis and T. caudiglans, while M. citri had the longest developmental time; and diet breadth was most narrow for G. occidentalis and progressively broader from G. flumenis, T. caudiglans through M. citri, which was able to sustain oviposition on the broadest range of prey and pollens. Species were classified somewhat differently depending on which traits were considered in a given DA. Prey-stage preference was not included as an indicator in the parsimonious DA model when all species and all traits were considered, but in general this trait performed well as an indicator alone (single-trait DA) and somewhat improved the classifications of multitrait discriminant analyses.     

Phytoseiid predators of whiteflies feed and reproduce on non-prey food sources

Two phytoseiid species, Euseius scutalis (Athias-Henriot) and Typhlodromips swirskii (Athias-Henriot), are able to suppress whitefly populations on single plants and are candidate biological control agents for whiteflies such as Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). These species can feed on pollen and insect-produced honeydew and these food sources are likely to be available in crops. If the utilization of these food types results in increased reproduction or survival, populations of predators can persist when whitefly prey is scarce or absent. We studied the impact of pollen and whitefly-produced honeydew on the life history of the two phytoseiids. Cattail pollen allowed for survival, development and reproduction of both predators. Whitefly-produced honeydew greatly increased survival of E. scutalis, allowed for development into adulthood and for a sustained low rate of oviposition. The survival of adult T. swirskii was high on cucumber leaf tissue, either with or without pollen or honeydew. Oviposition by adults and juvenile survival of T. swirskii was very low in presence of honeydew. Biological control of whiteflies may benefit from both pollen and honeydew because these non-prey food sources have a positive effect on the life history of the two predator species, especially E. scutalis.     

Pollen as Food for the Predatory Mites Iphiseius Degenerans and Neoseiulus Cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae): Dietary Range and Life History

Although all known phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) are predators of mites or small insects, many readily feed and reproduce on pollen as well. This ability to feed on food from plant origin increases their survival during periods when prey is locally sparse, but might occur at the expense of the ability to utilize food as efficiently as specialized predators. In this study we compare two predatory mite species used as biological control agents against thrips, Neoseiulus cucumeris and Iphiseius degenerans, with respect to (1) the range of pollen species that may serve as food sources for a sustained oviposition; and (2) the life history and expected intrinsic growth rates on some suitable pollen diets. The results show that I. degenerans is, compared to N. cucumeris, able to utilize a larger proportion of approx. 25 pollen species tested, but does not show equally high ovipositional rates as N. cucumeris. Consequently, the highest intrinsic growth rate for I. degenerans (0.21 day ^–1) will be surpassed by N. cucumeris.     

The relationship between dietary specialism and availability of food and water on cannibalistic interactions among predatory mites in protected crops

The interplay between dietary specialism, the tolerance of food and water stress and level of cannibalism is likely to be important in determining the outcome of biological control using inundative releases of multiple natural enemies, such as phytoseiid mites in protected crops. The dietary specialist, Phytoseiulus persimilis, with a short immature development time (4-5 days) when plentiful food was available had a low ability to survive without food (5 days), even with access to water. The dietary generalists, Neoseiulus californicus, N. cucumeris and lphiseius degenerans, had longer immature development times (by up to 2 days) than P. persimilis. Survival ability differed amongst the generalist species when they were starved but provided with constant access to water. Both N. californicus and N. cucumeris survived the longest (8-10 days) and I. degenerans survived the shortest period (4 days). No negative intra-specific interaction between immatures was observed with P. persimilis when food was available and in the absence of food this species tended to starve rather than act cannibalistically. Both N. californicus and N. cucumeris showed a low degree of cannibalism between immatures, either when food was available, or when starved but given access to water. Even when food was available survival of I. degenerans fell by 30% in 4 days and remained at 60-70% for 3 further days; survival continued to decline rapidly when they were starved but provided with water. This indicates that immatures of I. degenerans could either feed on dead conspecifics or that they were capable of a degree of cannibalism. Adult females of P. persimilis did not feed on conspecific eggs even when deprived of food but provided with water. Adult female N. californicus and N. cucumeris did feed on conspecific eggs but at a low level (<1 egg per day), which occurred only after 48 h starvation. Although egg cannibalism occurred more consistently with adult female I. degenerans than with other mite species it was at a low level (<1 egg per day). If the tendency to cannibalism, not just of eggs but with more susceptible life stages such as larvae, is reduced when water is available freely this could be important in determining the interactions that occur under natural conditions.     

Taxonomy and biological control: Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae), a case study

The predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is an important biological control agent of thrips and other small pests worldwide. Yet, despite its economic importance, this species is poorly defined taxonomically and cannot be reliably separated from other species on the basis of morphology alone. Neoseiulus cucumeris has been reported from Australia, although considerable confusion exists as to whether the Australian material is actually N. cucumeris or a presumed endemic species, Neoseiulus bellinus (Womersley). A morphological investigation of N. bellinus and several geographical 'strains' of N. cucumeris demonstrated that: (i) N. bellinus is a distinct species, the males of which can be morphologically separated from those of N. cucumeris , using setal and cheliceral lengths and number of teeth on the fixed digit; and (ii) N. cucumeris , or a morphologically identical species, is present in Australia. Despite behavioural differences, there are no significant morphological differences between the 'strains' of N. cucumeris . Biosystematic research is a more reliable method of species separation, and such a method is suggested for future work with phytoseiid mites.     

Intra- and interspecific predation by adult female Metaseiulus occidentalis and Typhlodromus pyri (Acari: Phytoseiidae) when provisioned with varying densities and ratios of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and phytoseiid larvae

The phytoseiid mites Metaseiulus occidentalis (Nesbitt) and Typhlodromus pyri Schueten are used together and alone as biological control agents against tetranychid pest mites of apple. Their effectiveness as control agents may be impacted by intraguild predation. The effects of prey species and prey density on the rates of inter- and intraspecific predation and oviposition by these two predators were investigated through a series of experiments. Adult female predators were given prey as mixed populations of phytoseiid larvae and larvae of a more preferred species, the spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, at different densities and ratios. Typhlodromus pyri, more of a generalist predator, showed higher rates of predation and cannibalism on phytoseiid immatures at most prey densities and ratios. Manly preference indices indicated that T. pyri switched to feed on phytoseiid larvae at higher prey levels and ratios of T. urticae than M. occidentalis. This greater ability to use phytoseiid larvae as prey may help stabilize T. pyri populations when more preferred prey is unavailable. This may, in part, explain the observed persistence of T. pyri populations when M. occidentalis populations were decreasing in orchard test plots.