Effect of three food regimes on longevity and oviposition rate of Orius albidipennis (Rueter)

Subject Areas : entomology and othea arthropods

F.  Lotfi ¹ (Department of Entomology, Islamic Azad University, Fars Science and Research Branch, Fars, Iran)
M.  Haghani ² (Department of plant protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran)
H.  Ostovan ³ (Department of Entomology, Islamic Azad University, Fars Science and Research Branch, Fars, Iran)

Received: 2011-12-24 Accepted : 2012-10-23 Published : 2013-05-22

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Abstract :

In recent years, rearing and releasing of Orius bugs to control small pests such as thrips and aphids has been increased. These studies were carried out to investigate the oviposition rate and longevity of adult females of Orius albidipennis, fed on three different food regimes (eggs of Sitotroga cerealella in addition to corn pollen, eggs of Sitotroga cerealella in addition to date pollen and Sitotroga cerealella's eggs) and two different oviposition substrates (Bean pod and Geranium leaf) under laboratory conditions (25±2°c, 65±5% RH, 16L:8D photoperiod). Results showed a significant differance in the mean number of laid eggs under conditions of various food regimes. There was an increase in oviposition rate of O. albidipennis, when fed on Sitotroga cerealeala's eggs supplemented with corn pollen (82.7±1.76). The longevity of adult females of O. albidipennis was also not significantly different on these three food regimes. The mean number of laid eggs on two different oviposition substrates showed no significant difference; so the both substrates are suitable for rearing O. albidipennis.