Life Table and Predation Rate of Gaeolaelaps aculeifer Raumilben (Acari: Laelapidae) Feeding on Fungus Gnats, Lycoriella auripila Winnertz (Dip: Sciaridae)

Predation rate is one of the most important parameters in determining the performance of a predator. Gaeolaelaps aculeifer Raumilben is one of the important soil predators. It has main role in reduction population of the phytophagous agents of the soils. In this study predation rate and life table parameters of G. aculeifer fed on second instar larvae of Lycoriella auripila Winnertz were studied under laboratory conditions: 25±1oC and 75±10 R.H. Result showed that the larva stage not feeds on the sciarid larvae but other stages could feed very well. Consumption of protonymph and deutonymph stages were 2/56±0/1 and 6/6±0/12, respectively. Consumption rate of male and female were 149/38±1/95 and 381/38±5/99, respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), mean generation time (T), net reproductive rate (R0) and gross reproductive rat (GRR) the values of which were 0/17±0/0089 d-1, 1/19±0/01 d-1, 18/95±0/3 d, 30/27±3/94 offspring and 42/17±4/7, respectively. Pre-adult longevity was 11/5±0/1 days. Maximum longevity of male and female were 79 and 93 days, respectively. The longevity of pre-oviposition was 3/39±0/16 days and total fecundity was 71/69±2/03 eggs. Therefore G. aculeifer can be good agent to reduction of sciarid larvae population and can be used for integrated pest management of the sciarid flies in the mushroom farms.