University of Tehran Iranian Journal of Plant Protection Science 2008-4781 44 2 2014 02 20 Population Abundance, Prey Consumption and Body Size of the Predatory Bug Orius minutus Feeding on Tetranychus urticae on Six Potato Cultivars Population Abundance, Prey Consumption and Body Size of the Predatory Bug Orius minutus Feeding on Tetranychus urticae on Six Potato Cultivars 191 201 36670 10.22059/ijpps.2014.36670 FA Seyed Ali Asghar Fathi Associate Professor, Department of Plant Protection, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran Journal Article 2014 01 31 Two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is a pest of potato crop in Ardabilregion. Throughout the study, the population densities of T. urticae and Orius minutus L. wereassessed on six cultivars of potato crop under field conditions during years 2011 and 2012.Also, the attraction rate and the body size of O. minutus were studied on six cultivars of potatoinfested with T. urticae under laboratory conditions. The lowest mite density (71.1 prey/plant)and the highest predator population (3.3 predator/plant) were recorded for Savalan. After 24,48 and 72 hours past from release, the predators were significantly more attracted to twospottedspider mite-infested leaves of Savalan (as compared with the other tested cultivars).The female predators reared on the two-spotted spider mite-infested leaves of Savalan cultivarwere of higher body mass and greater body sizes among the six tested cultivars of the potatocrop. The prey consumption per O. minutus nymphs on Savalan was significantly higher thanthat occurring on Kondor and Diamant cultivars. Therefore, it can be concluded that cultivationof Savalan potato cultivar integrated with O. minutusas as a biological control agent could bepractically useful in the integrated management of T. urticae in the potato fields of Ardabil. Two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is a pest of potato crop in Ardabilregion. Throughout the study, the population densities of T. urticae and Orius minutus L. wereassessed on six cultivars of potato crop under field conditions during years 2011 and 2012.Also, the attraction rate and the body size of O. minutus were studied on six cultivars of potatoinfested with T. urticae under laboratory conditions. The lowest mite density (71.1 prey/plant)and the highest predator population (3.3 predator/plant) were recorded for Savalan. After 24,48 and 72 hours past from release, the predators were significantly more attracted to twospottedspider mite-infested leaves of Savalan (as compared with the other tested cultivars).The female predators reared on the two-spotted spider mite-infested leaves of Savalan cultivarwere of higher body mass and greater body sizes among the six tested cultivars of the potatocrop. The prey consumption per O. minutus nymphs on Savalan was significantly higher thanthat occurring on Kondor and Diamant cultivars. Therefore, it can be concluded that cultivationof Savalan potato cultivar integrated with O. minutusas as a biological control agent could bepractically useful in the integrated management of T. urticae in the potato fields of Ardabil. https://ijpps.ut.ac.ir/article_36670_0fd0233ea8f93dc84bef4f6b1d4799f3.pdf