The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of the webbing produced by Tetranychus evansi (Acari: Tetranychidae) on the predation efficiency of Cycloneda sanguinea and Eriopis connexa coccinellids and of the Chrysoperla externa chrysopid. The predation efficiency on T. evansi females with and without webbing on tomato leaf discs was evaluated for each juvenile stage of the different predator species tested. There was a negative effect of T. evansi webbing on the predation efficiency of the second and third C. externa juvenile stages. Regarding E. connexa, only the predation by the oldest juvenile stage was negatively affected by the webbing. The predation efficiency of the first and the third juvenile stages of C. sanguinea was lower in the presence of webbing, but the opposite was observed for the fourth stage. The defensive role of T. evansi webbing varies according to the predator species and their developmental stage.
Chrysoperla externa; Cycloneda sanguinea; Eriopis connexa; red tomato spider mite; defense mechanisms
