Influence of Two Phytoseiid Predacious Mites on Population Density of the Two-Spotted Spider Mite, Tetranycus urticae Koch on Eggplant (Solanum melanogena L.) in Protected Cultivation (Acar: Tetranychidae: Phytoseiidae)

One greenhouse located in the Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University was used to achieve this study, over two consecutive seasons 2023 and 2024. The aim of the experiments was to investigate the role of predacious mites in regulating the population density of the two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch, which attacks eggplant (Solanum melanogena L.) under protected cultivation conditions. The results indicated that the two species of predacious mites, Euseius scutalis (A.-H.) and Amblyseius swirskii A.-H., influenced significantly on the numbers of (TSSM) on eggplant. The findings clearly showed synchronization between the population of (TSSM) and the two predacious mites, with an increase in T urticae numbers being followed by a rise in the predator populations. However, a decrease in (TSSM)did not result in a corresponding decrease in predator numbers. This can likely be attributed to the presence of other insect species (prey) inhabiting the tested plants, which these predators may prefer.