<p><strong>Biological characteristics and predation capacity of predatory mite <em>Neoseiulus californicus</em> (Acari: Phytoseiidae) feeding on <em>Tetranychus urticae</em> (Acari: Tetranychidae) and sunflower, tamarix, and common mallow pollens</st

The supply of pollens as an alternative food can enhance the performance of phytoseiid predatory mites. The study determined the effects of three different pollens (sunflower, tamarix, and common mallow) as supplementary diets on the life table parameters and predation rate of Neoseiulus californicus McGregor (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in the absence and presence of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) eggs. The chemical compositions of the pollens were also analyzed. The results showed that the fecundity of N. californicus on T. urticae in the presence of pollen was significantly higher than that on pollen alone. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) on T. urticae in the presence of tamarix and common mallow pollens (0.131 and 0.132 day−1, respectively) was significantly higher than those recorded on the other diets. The net reproductive rate (R0) varied from 0.585 offspring (on sunflower pollen) to 8.465 offspring (on tamarix pollen + T. urticae). The cohort reared on common mallow pollen + T. urticae had the highest values of both intrinsic rate and the finite rate of increase, followed by tamarix pollen + T. urticae. The predation rate of T. urticae by N. californicus fed on tamarix pollen was the highest compared to other pollens. Tamarix pollen had the highest protein content, while sunflower pollen contained higher levels of lipid, phenol, and flavonoid compounds. Due to its higher protein content, tamarix pollen had favorable effects on the survival, development, fecundity, and predation rate of N. californicus. Tamarix pollen can be used as a supplementary medium alongside T. urticae, since the treatment with tamarix pollen + T. urticae eggs showed most of the superior parameters. Therefore, N. californicus reared on tamarix pollen can be helpful in controlling T. urticae.