Life table parameters and predation of orius Niger wolff (hemiptera: Anthocoridae) feeding on two different preys

Abstract

The development period, longevity, fecundity, and prey consumption of Orius niger Wolff (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) feeding on Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) were studied in a climate room under 25±1 C, 65±10% RH and 16 h of artificial light conditions. Feeding with different food sources did not change duration of egg, nymphal stages and total immature period for both males and females of O. niger except the third nymphal stage of males and the fifth nymphal stage of females. Oviposition period and female longevity of O. niger fed on B. tabaci were significantly longer than those of O. niger fed on T. cinnabarinus. Average total and daily fecundity of O. niger fed on B. tabaci was significantly higher than those of O. niger fed on T. cinnabarinus. The higher net reproductive rate (R0 = 87.2 ♀/♀), intrinsic rate of increase (rm = 0.120 ♀/♀/day) and the longer mean generation time (T0 = 37.2 days) of O. niger were obtained for individuals fed on B. tabaci than those of O. niger fed on T. cinnabarinus. O. niger showed increasing consumption withincreasing prey densities and, the number of T. cinnabarinus eggs consumed by O. niger significantly changed depending on prey densities. The highest number of eggs consumed by O. niger per day was 89.85 when confined to 150 eggs.