BEYOND FIELD SUCCESS: INSIGHTS INTO FUNCTIONAL AND NUMERICAL RESPONSE OF THE PREDATORY MITE TYPHLODROMALUS ARIPO AND THE ROLE OF CASSAVA EXUDATE IN PREDATORY PERFORMANCE

The predatory mite Typhlodromalusaripo is a key natural enemy of cassava green mite (Mononychellustanajoa) on cassava in Sub-Saharan Africa, yet its functional and numerical responses remain poorly understood. We evaluated, under controlled laboratory conditions (25C, 70 90% RH, 12L:12D photoperiod), the functional and numerical responses of T. aripo to four immature stages of its prey M. tanajoa(eggs, larvae, protonymphs, deutonymphs)offered at four densities (5, 15, 30, and 60 individuals), in the presence or absence of cassava exudate. T. aripo exhibited a Type II functional response across all prey stages, with highest attack rates on larvae and protonymphs, and shortest handling times on eggs and larvae. Predation rates were consistently higher on early prey stages, but cassava exudate reduced attack rates and increased handling times, except on larvae where both parameters increased. Oviposition and efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) rose with prey stage, peaking on deutonymphs, and exudate enhanced reproduction and ECI particularly on early stages. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of T. aripoas biological contol agent against cassava green mite, capable of exploiting a range of prey stages. Cassava exudate, while influencing predatory behavior, can enhance reproductive performance, thereby demonstrating the predators long-term persistence in cassava fields. The functional and numerical response data presented here provide valuable reference information for selecting and developing new predatory mite species for use as biological control agents in similar agroecological contexts.