Study and Determination of the Most Important Biological Parameters of the Predator, Nephus includens Kirch and Comparison with Parameters of the Famous Introduced Predator, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant and the local predator, Nephus includens Kirch were reared on the Planococcus citri Risso in Lattakia Insectary for Rearing Natural Enemies. A comparative study was done applying the most important biological parameters (Predation rate, life cycle, longevity, starvation tolerance, fecundity, sex ratio, adult emergence) for both predators under laboratory conditions. Research results proved the overpass of that predation rate of C. montro- uzieri males and females, was greater than that of males and females of N. includens, by three folds with significant differences. Similarly the perdition rate of the third instar, in first predator over passed three times the rate of the second predator, with significant differences reaching 10.53± 2.41, 30.87±3.76 nymphs (second nymphal instars)/day. The results proved a significant rise of fecundity index in females of C. monrtouzieri over that of predator, N. includens by 1.8 times (50.70±13.63, and 107.3±14.87, respectively), while both predators were equal in values of other biological parameters with no significant differences (biological development stages, longevity of males and females, adults emergence and sex ratio).