The Oviposition Behavior of the Predator Orius insidiosus: Acceptability and Preference for Different Plants

Abstract

The ability of natural enemies to reproduce within cropland and effectively suppress pests depends on the presence of plants on which to oviposit within the agroecosystems. Our research investigates the acceptability and preferences of a range of plants for oviposition by the predatory bug Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) in the laboratory. Within-plant preferences on pole beans as oviposition sites were evaluated in laboratory choice tests. The acceptability and preference of O. insidiosus females for pole bean, soybean, redroot pigweed, and velvetleaf were evaluated in choice and no-choice tests (respectively) in the laboratory. Observations on the acceptability of green foxtail, orchardgrass, buffalograss, smooth brome, redtop grass, blue grama, and tall fescue for oviposition were also conducted. O. insidiosus preferred to lay its eggs on the petiole and leaflet petioles of pole beans, and did not distinguish among nodes or petioles of different lengths. Although all broadleaved plants were suitable for egg development, the acceptability of these plants differed significantly, with pole beans being most acceptable and almost no eggs being laid on velvetleaf. Preference tests supported the results of the no-choice tests, with pole bean being the most preferred, and no eggs being laid on the velvetleaf. Green foxtail and orchardgrass were the only grass species found to be acceptable to O. insidiosus. The implications of soybean monocultures on the reproductive capacity of and biological control by O. insidiosus are discussed, as are possible mechanisms underlying the decision-making process for oviposition.

Effects of neonicitinoid seed treatments on soybean aphid and its natural enemies

“…Plants from treated or untreated seeds were randomly assigned to an appropriate treatment involving fed or unfed O. insidiosus adults or nymphs (i.e., a total of eight treatments; Table 1). Orius insidiosus were collected from alfalfa near Brookings, SD and were reared to the desired life stage (neonate nymphs or\5-dayold enclosed adults) under conditions described in Lundgren and Fergen (2006). Adults and nymphs that received prey were fed eggs of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Phycitidae) (Beneficial Insectary, Redding CA), and all treatment received water as a saturated cotton wick.…”

Population responses by Orius insidiosus to vegetational diversity

“…Theoretically, an insect should choose to oviposit on plants that bestow the greatest fitness for developing offspring, and in several cases non-crop plants are preferred over agricultural crops for oviposition by predatory insects (Coll 1996;Cottrell and Yeargan 1999;Griffen and Yeargan 2002;Lundgren and Fergen 2006;Lundgren et al 2008). A potential driving force behind plant preferences of facultatively phytophagous predators that merits further attention is the contribution of plant nutrients to the reproductive success of females.…”

“…One important predator of A. glycines is O. insidiosus (Desneux et al 2006;Rutledge et al 2004), which in addition to feeding on insect prey is also facultatively phytophagous. Ovipositing O. insidiosus display distinct preferences for different plant species, and even consistently discriminate plant structures within a given plant species (Lundgren and Fergen 2006). These ovipositional preferences may be manifested in the field, where increasing plant diversity within soybean fields is shown to increase predator populations (J. G. Lundgren unpublished data), but the mechanisms that drive these increases remain poorly understood.…”

Avaliação de substratos de oviposição para Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera, Anthocoridae)

“…Este fato pode estar relacionado com a relativa maciez e turgidez destes brotos, o que facilitou a oviposição, pois o teor de umidade pode ser um importante fator de estímulo para oviposição de O. insidiosus. De acordo com Lundgren & Fergen (2006), a preferência de oviposição de O. insidiosus é influenciada por características físicas e morfológicas das plantas e a facilidade com que as fêmeas colocam seus ovos dentro do substrato afeta a aceitabilidade de algumas espécies de plantas. Segundo van den Meiracker & Sabelis (1993), características do substrato como maciez e umidade influenciam a oviposição de O. insidiosus.…”

“…A oviposição endofítica em plantas é uma característica observada entre as espécies de Orius Wolff, 1811 (Bueno 2000) e vários substratos naturais e artificiais têm sido pesquisados para a criação desses agentes de controle (Castañé & Zalom 1994;Richards & Schmidt 1996). Os aspectos estruturais, nutricionais e químicos de diferentes plantas podem potencialmente influenciar o desempenho das fêmeas de Orius insidiosus (Say, 1832) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) sobre as plantas (Lundgren & Fergen 2006). Assim, as plantas exercem grande importância na criação massal de predadores heterópteros, pois além de servirem de meio de oviposição, também são fonte de nutrientes e umidade (Coll 1998).…”