Abstract: To evaluate the role of zoophytophagous predator mirid Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) in insect pest control, a laboratory trial was conducted to examine the predation behaviors of N. tenuis female adults that were individually provided with first instar larvae of Spodoptera litura at the density of either 0, 5, 10, 20, or 30 larvae on a tobacco leaf. The number of caterpillars preyed by N. tenuis increased with the increase in prey density. Cox proportion hazard model fit showed that the risk of S. littura larvae being preyed was higher at low prey densities than at high prey densities. The predator spent more time on searching, capturing, and plant-feeding on low prey density patches, but less time on grooming and resting. The predator spent more time in searching and plant-feeding, but more time in prey-capturing on higher density prey patches. Patch residence time increased with the increase in prey density. The results suggested that N. tenuis can prey more neonate larvae of S. litura on high density prey-patches by spending longer time, leading however to lower predation efficiency.