Reproduction of Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) on Sesame

Abstract

Abstract:We found many mirid stink bugs, Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter), on sesame plants outdoors, even though there were few prey. This suggests that N. tenuis can be reared on sesame without prey, so we investigated their fecundity on sesame, and on cucumber, tomato, eggplant and bell pepper without prey for comparison. Nesidiocoris tenuis were also reared on sesame with defrosted eggs of the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller). On sesame without moth eggs, the survival rate from egg to adult of N. tenuis was 59.3%, which was significantly higher than on eggplant, but not significantly different from cucumber and sesame with moth eggs. No adult N. tenuis emerged on tomato and bell pepper. On sesame without moth eggs, the developmental period from egg to adult of N. tenuis was 29.0 days, which was significantly shorter than on cucumber and eggplant, but significantly longer than on sesame with moth eggs. On sesame without moth eggs, the male and female adult longevity of N. tenuis was 38.4 days and 27.7 days, respectively, which was significantly longer than on other plants, but not significantly different from sesame with moth eggs. Nesidiocoris tenuis laid 63.6 eggs on sesame without moth eggs, and a significantly greater number of 166.4 eggs on sesame with moth eggs, but a significantly lower number of 4 eggs or fewer on cucumber, tomato, eggplant and bell pepper. The intrinsic rate of the natural increase and the intrinsic rate for 30 days of N. tenuis reared on sesame with moth eggs was 0.0865 and 13.4, respectively, while the intrinsic rate of natural increase and the intrinsic rate for 30 days of N. tenuis reared on sesame without moth eggs was 0.0465 and 4.0, respectively, which was lower than on sesame with moth eggs. These results suggest that N. tenuis can be reared only on sesame and also that sesame can be an insectary plant for N. tenuis.

Do Development and Diet Determine the Degree of Cannibalism in Insects? To Eat or Not to Eat Conspecifics

“…It should be noted that these N. tenuis nymphal instars have a higher degree of phytophagy. Thus, the I-instars of the species are able to survive until they become III-instars by feeding only on plant material [91][92][93]. In contrast to the III-instars, the species shows greater zoophagy [91]; this is contrary to the results that showed reduced cannibalism at that stage and at subsequent stages.…”

Olfactory response of the omnivorous mirid bug Nesidiocoris tenuis to eggplants infested by prey: Specificity in prey developmental stages and prey species

“…For example, Urbaneja et al (2003) reported that N. tenuis performed poorly when two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) were offered as prey, while lepidopteran larvae/eggs are a suitable prey (Torreno, 1994;Wei et al, 1997). In the absence of prey, N. tenuis completes its life cycle by feeding on prey's host plants (Arnó et al, 2010;Castañé et al, 2011;Nakaishi et al, 2011;Sanchez, 2008;Urbaneja et al, 2005). When N. tenuis infests fruits and/or leaves of crops, necrotic rings appear at the infestation sites (Castañé et al, 2011;Sanchez, 2008).…”

Plant Resources as a Factor Altering Emergent Multi-Predator Effects

“…pygmaeus and N . tenuis , thereafter indexed as Mp and Nt , which have comparable predation characteristics and a similar body size [ 26 – 32 , 34 , 37 , 38 , 42 , 43 , 45 , 47 ]. A better control of the experimental conditions makes the results more reliable and increases our comprehension of the mechanisms at stake.…”

“…Although M . pygmaeus has not been seen predating other hemipteran predators [ 39 ], it interferes with parasitoid biocontrol agents [ 32 , 40 ] and displays a cannibalistic behaviour [ 41 ] Nesidiocoris tenuis is also a plant feeding generalist predator but cannot reach adulthood on plants in the absence of prey [ 42 ], although this may depend on the plant [ 43 ]. However, this species has been reported to not only benefit tomato plants directly by entomophagy but also indirectly by phytophagy, which induces a physiological response in the tomato plant [ 44 ].…”