Egypt. Acad. J. biolog. Sci., 2(1): 17 - 22 (2009) E. mail. egyptianacademicr@yahoo.com ISSN: 1687 – 8809 Received: 11/12/2008 Food consumption of the coccinellid predator, Stethorus punctillum reared on the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae under different constant temperatures Bakr, R. F. A. 1 ; Gesraha, M. A. 2 ; Genidy Noha A.M. 1 ; Farag, N.A. 2 and Elbehery Hoda H.A. 2 1- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Sci., Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt 2- Department of Pests and Plant Protection, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt ABSTRACT Food consumption of the predator, Stethorus punctillum Wiese reared on immature and mature stages of the prey, Tetranychus urticae (Koch) was studied under laboratory conditions at three different constant temperatures (15, 25 and 35ºC). The larval instars consumed more immature prey individuals at 15ºC, followed by 35 ºC then 25ºC. Adult males of the predator consumed more individuals of immature preys at 35ºC, followed by 25 ºC then at 15ºC, while the predator females relatively consumed more prey individuals than the males, at the same temperatures. When the larvae of the predator reared on mature stages of the prey, they consumed more prey individuals at 15ºC, followed by 25ºC then at 35ºC. The adult males and females of the predator consumed almost the same numbers of the prey individuals. They consumed the highest number of preys at 35ºC, followed by 25ºC, while the lowest consumed number was recorded at 15ºC. Key words: Stethorus punctillum Wiese, Tetranychus urticae (Koch), food consumption, temperatures. INTRODUCTION Tetranychus urticae (Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae) is one of the most polyphagous species of the Tetranychidae, attacking vegetables in greenhouses and of several other agricultural outdoor crops causing economic damage (Ripa et al., 2006). T. urticae is adapted to various environmental conditions and is distributed worldwide, causing loss of yield and quality or the death of the plants by sucking out the contents of plant sap (Geest, 1985; Granham, 1985; Rott and Ponsonby, 2000 a&b). There are several important natural enemies of T. urticae (Granham, 1985). All known species of Order Coleoptera, Family Coccinellidae are predator of spider mites (Felland and Hull, 1996; Hoy and Smith, 1982 and McMurty et al., 1970). The coccinellids Stethorus punctillum, S. gilvifrons, S. punctum picipes were the most effective natural enemies of the phytophagous mite species included Tetranychus urticae Koch, T. piercei McGregor, Panonychus citri McGregor and P.ulmi (koch) (Lui and Lui 1986; Lorenzato, 1987; Wen, 1988; Pasualini and Antropoli 1994; James et al., 2001; Cakmak and Aksit 2003; Perez et al., 2004 and Gencer et al., 2005). The present laboratory work was carried out to study some biological aspects of Stethorus punctillum and its efficacy as a biological control agent under different rearing conditions.