Temperature is an important inorganic factor which affects on every aspect in life of phytoseiid mites in general including N. californicus in this study. Cumulative and short-term effects of temperature through different life stages (immature, mating and oviposition periods) on mating duration and total fecundity of N. californicus were investigated at temperatures of 18, 25, 30 and 350C with a photoperiod of 16L:8D. Throughout experiments, females mated once and egg production was observed until they stop oviposition.

For precise property control of sintered products, it is important to understand accurately the packing density of the powder. We developed a packing simulation program that could make a packed bed of spherical particles having particle size distribution. In addition, the influence of the particle shape of the actual powder on the packing density was quantitatively analyzed. The predicted packing densities corresponded well to the actual data.