Studies on how Phytoseiid mites feed on spider mites and pollen

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Galendromus occidentalis, Phytoseiulus fragariae, Euseius stipulatus, Amblyseius similoides and Iphiseius degenerans feed on spider mites by cutting into the cuticle of the prey with their chelicerae; the corniculi are partially introduced after cheliceral penetration. The number of feeding episodes on the body and/or legs of the same prey varies according to the predator species. Evidence suggests that proteolytic enzyme(s) are injected into the prey with at least some preoral digestion. E. stipulatus and A. similoides pick up pollen grains individually with one of the chelicerae without cutting into the grain; the exine is then ruptured in the course of alternative movements of the chelicerae, and the pollen grain contents withdrawn. Females of the two species consumed a similar mean number of pollen grains (ca. 100) regardless of starvation time (24–72 h) and feeding period (1–2 h). Cheliceral morphology is discussed in relation to feeding.