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

Abstract EN

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 O.

albidipennis under laboratory conditions of at 26 ± 1°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 1 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 / female ) .

Throughout the whole nymphal stage , a single O.

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 1 st 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 should contribute to the development of mass rearing programs for biological control.