Abstract
Laboratory experiments were carried out to estimate the prey consumption of Feltiella sp., a predator of the kanzawa spider mite, Tetranychus kanzawai KISHIDA. The prey consumption increased with the growth of the larvae. The maximum number of preys consumed by old larvae was about 7 adult female mites per day. There was no significant difference in the prey consumption at temperatures ranging from 15 to 25°C. The number of mites consumed slightly decreased when the temperature decreased below 10°C However, old larvae consumed about 4 adult female mites per day at 5°C. The total number of preys consumed throughout the larval period was the largest at 15°C, when the larval period was longer than of higher temperatures. The predator consumed about 80 eggs per day at temperatures ranging between 15 and 20°C. In the tea fields, the population density of this predator was higher in winter than in other seasons. It is reasonable to assume that the predatory activity of this predator is high at relatively low temperatures.
