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Abstract Blaptostethus piceus seems to be a promising predator suppressing the population density of the two-spotted spider mite and the greenhouse whitefly in Egypt. The present work aimed to throw the light on the biology of the predator B. piceus using three species of preys at different laboratory conditions to determine the type of manipulation necessary to reach its full potential as a biological control agent. 6.I-Immature stages 6. 1. I-Egg stage 6.1.1.I-Incubation period Duration of the incubation period of R. piceus eggs was estimated under four temperatures 15,20,25 and 30 DC and 60±1O% RH. Data indicated that the shortest incubation period was 4.64 ±O.12 days at 30DC; increased to 5.60 ±O.16 and 6.28 ±O. 15 days at 2SDC and 20°e. However, at ISoC, the incubation period averaged longer 12.11 ±0.89 days. 6.1.1.2-Hatching rate 387 out of 524 eggs hatched successfully with a ratio of 73.85 %. 6.1.2-Nymphal stage 6. 1.2. I-Effect of temperature At 25DC, the mean total nymphal period was 20.94 ± 5.53 days (15-26 days), while it was 16.96 ± 2.51 days (14-19 days) at 30De. |