Effect of population density on oviposition, development, and survival of Alloeocranum biannulipes (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) preying on Dinoderus porcellus (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)

Abstract

Background Alloeocranum biannulipes Montr. and Sign.(Hemiptera: Reduviidae) is a predator present in stored yam chips and a promising biological control agent against Dinoderus porcellus Lesne (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae). Numerical responses of A. biannulipes to different densities (1, 2, 4, 6, and 8) of D. porcellus larvae were evaluated under ambient laboratory conditions (T°: 25 ± 2 °C; RH: 75–80%; photoperiod 12:12 h (L/D)). The number of consumed prey, duration of pre-oviposition and oviposition, number of eggs laid, pre-imaginal development times and mortality rate of the predator were recorded. Results The results revealed that A. biannulipes females preying on the highest larval density of D. porcellus (8) presented the highest predation rate (4.34 ± 0.18 larvae/predator/day), shortest pre-oviposition period (11.01 ± 0.57 days) and the highest oviposition period (15.83 ± 1.02 days). The daily number of eggs laid by A. biannulipes female (y) as a function of the number of D. porcellus larvae consumed (x) was modelled by the equation y = 0.158x2 – 0.4073x + 3.8151 (R2 = 0.571). The efficiency of prey conversion into eggs of A. biannulipes females decreased with increased prey density. The prey density did not affect the hatching rate of A. biannulipes eggs and the pre-imaginal development times. However, A. biannulipes nymphs fed with more (2 to 8) D. porcellus showed a significantly higher survival rate than those fed with a single larva. Conclusions The positive numerical response of A. biannulipes suggests that this predator could play a key role in biological control program against D. porcellus.

The Oldest Fossils From China Provide the Most Direct Evidence for the Ancestral State of Fossula Spongiosa and Stridulitrum of Reduviidae

“…Associated Specimen. In addition to the assassin bug, this fossil also has a rove beetle larva next to it, which belongs to Coleoptera, and although it is documented that the assassin bugs prey on Coleoptera as well (Youssef and Abd-Elgayed, 2015;Loko et al, 2022), there is no direct evidence that this assassin bug was preying on the rove beetle larva in this fossil, but the leg of the assassin bug was in contact with the carapace of the larva. Coincidentally, the assassin bug fossil documented by Swanson also shows Coleoptera (Swanson et al, 2021), and the leg of the assassin bug is also in contact with the body of the beetle.…”

A Predator-Prey Population Dynamics Simulation for Biological Control Of Frankliniella Occidentalis (Western Flower Thrips) By Orius Laevigatus In Strawberry Plants

“…The numerical response of insect predators is modelled by assuming that the daily oviposition rate of adult females increases with their daily predation rate (Crawley, 1975). This is approximated using a linear relationshipevery prey eaten results in a constant increase in the predator's daily oviposition rate up to a maximum value (prey required for satiation) (Crawley, 1975;Rahman et al, 2012;Madahi et al, 2015;Nasreen et al, 2021;Loko et al, 2022). Hence, the daily oviposition rate (eggs/female/day) of an adult Orius female (e o a ) is formulated as…”