Continuous rearing of the predatory anthocorid Orius laevigatus without plant materials

Abstract

The omnivorous anthocorid predator Orius laevigatus is an economically important biological control agent of several small arthropod pests including the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis. Mass rearing systems for Orius bugs typically make use of plant materials such as bean pods as an oviposition substrate and moisture source. Omission of plant materials from the mass rearing system of these beneficial arthropods could drastically improve the cost‐effectiveness of their production and thus stimulate their use in augmentative biological control. This study investigated the effect of a plantless rearing system, using wax paper as a walking substrate, water encapsulated in Parafilm domes, and an artificial oviposition substrate made of Parafilm and moist cotton wool, on the developmental and reproductive fitness of O. laevigatus. Plantless rearing during four generations resulted in females with an 11% lower body weight and a pre‐oviposition period that was prolonged by 29%. However, other biological parameters were not negatively affected by the absence of plants. In addition, plantless‐reared females had similar predation rates on F. occidentalis larvae as their peers maintained on plants. Our study indicates that the omission of plant material from the production cycle of O. laevigatus is possible when Ephestia kuehniella eggs are provided as a nutritionally optimal food source.

Development of Cleruchoides noackae, an egg-parasitoid of Thaumastocoris peregrinus, in eggs laid on different substrates, with different ages and post-cold storage

“…The percentage of T. peregrinus nymphs on eucalyptus leaves and paper towel was similar showing that the substrate did not influence this biological parameter and eggs offered to C. noackae had good quality. Suitable oviposition substrates are also important to produce predatory bugs in the laboratory (Lundgren 2011) and were studied for Macrolophus caliginosus Wagner (Heteroptera: Miridae) (Constant et al 1996;Castañé and Zapata 2005), Orius laevigatus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) (Bonte and De Clercq 2010;De Puysseleyr et al 2014) and Nesidiocoris tenuis (Heteroptera: Miridae) (De Puysseleyr et al 2013). The paper towel did not reduce C. noackae parasitism and can be used as a substrate to obtain T. peregrinus eggs, facilitating mass rearing of this parasitoid for field release.…”

Basic Studies Aiming at Orius minutus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) Mass-Rearing

“…The elimination of plant materials may help rationalize the production of Orius spp. However, some studies focused on substituting less common hosts with more common plants such as green beans, kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), and peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) [29,30]. Castañe and Zalom [31] used gelatin coated with parafilm as an oviposition substrate for O. insidiosus.…”

“…Castañe and Zalom [31] used gelatin coated with parafilm as an oviposition substrate for O. insidiosus. De Puysseleyr et al [30,32] employed a parafilm dome (1.5 cm diameter, 1 cm high) utilizing a diet encapsulation device as an oviposition substrate for Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter (Heteroptera: Miridae) and O. laevigatus. The parafilm layer must be cut as soon as the eggs hatch to allow the nymphs to escape.…”

“…However, most of the nymphs stick to the surface of the parafilm and cannot escape. Therefore, although the parafilm can be cut manually in small-scale rearing, this technique is impractical for a large-scale rearing system [30].…”

Selection and genetic improvement of relevant biological traits in Orius laevigatus (Fieber) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) to increase its effectiveness in pest control

“…De Clercq et al 2005, Bonte y de, 2010a, 2010b, De Puysseleyr et al 2014. Del mismo modo, otros estudios encontraron anchos de pronoto (De Clercq et al 2005) ligeramente más grandes que los de nuestro estudio para las poblaciones silvestres y comerciales.…”