Influence of Three Diets on some Biological Characteristics of Predatory Bug Orius albidipennis (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae)

The developmental period, prey consumption of different nymph instars, survival, reproduction and longevity of Orius albidipennis were studied on three different diets including the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae plus corn pollen; two-spotted spider mite; and eggs of Sitotroga cerealella plus corn pollen under laboratory conditions. Leaves of Pelargonium hortom served as oviposition substrate as well as moisture source. The results showed that developmental periods from egg to adult were significantly higher on eggs of grain moth plus corn pollen than on T.urticae and T. urticae plus corn pollen. The female longevity was significantly higher on grain moth eggs plus corn pollen than on T. urticae plus corn pollen and on T. urticae. There were no significant differences among the three different diets as male longevity was concerned. The survival rates on T.urticae plus corn pollen and on T.urticae were significantly higher than on the eggs of grain moth plus corn pollen. The oviposition period and fecundity rate on grain moth eggs plus corn pollen were significantly higher than on T. urticae plus corn pollen and on T. urticae. Daily egg-laying of O. albidipennis feeding on T. urticae plus corn pollen and on T. urticae were significantly higher than on grain moth eggs plus corn pollen. The sex ratio (the female to whole population ratio) was higher on grain moth eggs plus corn pollen than on the other two diets. The kind of diets didn’t have any effect on premating period, preoviposition period, embryonic development and percent of egg hatching. Results indicated that the bug O. albidipennis can act as the biological control agent against two spotted spider mite and secondly that the eggs of grain moth plus corn pollen constitute a suitable feed for rearing of this predator.