Biological aspects and predatory capacity of Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) fed on Alabama argillacea (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) reared on cotton genotypes

Abstract

Host plants may influence indirectly biological characteristics of predators, on a positive or negative way, poiting out the importance of studies evaluating the effect of cultivars on the third trophic level. This study evaluates the biological aspects and predatory capacity of Podisus nigrispinus adults fed Alabama argillacea larvae reared on cotton genotypes. The predator was fed daily with fourth instar larvae reared on leaves of the following genotypes CNPA Precoce 1 (hirsute), CNPA 9211-31 (high gossypol level), CNPA 9211-41 (medium gossypol level) and GL2 GL3 (gossypol glandless). The pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition periods and the oviposition capacity of P. nigripinus were not affected when preyed on cotton leafworms reared on the listed cotton genotypes. Mean weight of predator females was higher (126.2 mg) when they fed on A. argillacea reared on GL2 GL3 cotton leaves, in comparison to the observed weight (96.

Comparison of Eggs, Larvae, and Pupae ofPlutella xylostella(Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) as Prey forPodisus nigrispinus(Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

“…Santos and Boiça Junior (2002) have reported findings similar to those obtained in this study and noted preoviposition and oviposition periods of 4.3 and 32.3 d, respectively. The feeding of pupae as prey seems to favor greater offspring production in females (Santos and Boiça Junior 2002, Oliveira et al 2004, Holtz et al 2007). This greater productivity may also be associated with higher longevity (Holtz et al 2007).…”

“…Female longevity varied from 30.7 to 48.6 d, whereas male longevity varied from 38.0 to 66.3 d (Santos and Boiça Junior 2002). Santos and Boiça Junior (2002) have reported findings similar to those obtained in this study and noted preoviposition and oviposition periods of 4.3 and 32.3 d, respectively.…”

“…Female longevity varied from 30.7 to 48.6 d, whereas male longevity varied from 38.0 to 66.3 d (Santos and Boiça Junior 2002). Santos and Boiça Junior (2002) have reported findings similar to those obtained in this study and noted preoviposition and oviposition periods of 4.3 and 32.3 d, respectively. The feeding of pupae as prey seems to favor greater offspring production in females (Santos and Boiça Junior 2002, Oliveira et al 2004, Holtz et al 2007).…”

The predatory stinkbug Podisus nigrispinus : biology, ecology and augmentative releases for lepidoperan larval control in Eucalyptus forests in Brazil.

“…The egg incubation, nymphal development and female adult longevity of P. nigrispinus range from 5 to 6, 17 to 20 and 30 to 85 days, respectively, when reared at 25-27 C, 70-85% relative humidity and in a 12 h photoperiod. Females lay their eggs in masses containing on average between 25 and 40 eggs [68,78,85] with up to 81 and 100 eggs when reared in the field and laboratory, respectively [79,83]. Older females sometimes lay scattered eggs, and masses may contain fewer eggs.…”

Lightweight males of Podisus nigrispinus (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) neglect lightweight females due low reproductive fitness

“…The number of eggs laid by D2 diet P. nigrispinus females, regardless of male quality, was similar to the number laid when the same predator was fed with Alabama argillacea (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) (its natural prey in Brazil) (Santos and Boiça Junior, 2002), confirming the quality of T. molitor as prey (Torres et al, 2006;Zanuncio et al, 2011). By contrast, the fewer eggs and offspring from D1 fed females, suggests that the diet during immature stage can compromise female reproductive potential (Lundgren, 2011).…”