Ragusa, S., Istituto di Entomologia Agraria, Università degli studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy, Division of Entomology, A.R.O., The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
Swirski, E., Istituto di Entomologia Agraria, Università degli studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy, Division of Entomology, A.R.O., The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel

The nutritional value for Amblyseius swirskiiAthias-Henriot, of eggs or crawlers of Coccus hesperidum L., Saissetia oleae (Olivier), S. coffeae (Walker), Pseudococcus citriculusGreen, and P. longispinusTarg.-Tozz, even with the addition of honeydew, was low; only a few young reached adulthood and the oviposition rate was negligible. However, addition of honeydew to Tetranychus cinnabarinusBoisd. enhanced the oviposition rate of Amblyseius swirskii. Honeydew was a favourite food for A. swirskii, whereas the eggs and crawlers tested were not eagerly attacked and consumed. Females and males fed honeydew of Saissetia oleae mated readily and the females were inseminated, but fecundity was negligible. © 1977 Le François.