Orius albidipennis ( Hemiptera : Anthocoridae ) adults and nymphal voracity on different prey species in relation to biology of the predator [electronic resource]

Includes bibliographic reference

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of three different prey species on some biological aspects of the minute pirate bug Orius albidipennis . The third nymphal instar of two aphid species ; Aphis craccivora and Schizaphis graminum , and also the first instar larvae of Spodoptera litoralis were chosen as preys and offered to nymphs and adults of the predator 0. albidipennis under laboratory conditions of at 26 ± I °C and 60 ± 5% RH. Males lived shorter than females. While, the shortest development period ( 12.00±0.35 days) was achieved when predatory insect was fed I st instar larvae of S. litoralis . Feeding on S. litoralis or S. graminum shortened
pre-oviposition period and prolonged the oviposition which resulted in a higher rate of fecundity. S . litoralis was the most suitable food source where it caused the highest rate of net reproduction ( 187.60 ±5.51 eggs I female ) . Throughout the whole nymphal stage , 'a single 0. albidipennis is nymphal fed on total number of
243.40± 14.90 S. graminum, 211.90±12.95 A. craccivora or 110.70±11.90 individuals of pt instar larvae of S. litoralis . The mean total number of prey individuals was, significantly, higher in case of S. graminum than A . craccivora. These results sh~uld contribute to the development of mass rearing programs for biological control.

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