The predatory bug, Orius laevigatus (Fieber, 1860) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), is an important biological control agent and widely used for augmentative of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, 1895 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in greenhouse crops. This bug generally reared using Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, 1879 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). aim this ...

The parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) is often released to manage lepidopteran pests in cotton crops. However, growers rely on multiple insecticide applications pests. A harmonious integration of control tactics required for proper pest management, and the use selective insecticides (i.e., those promoting effective while causing little impact natural enemi...

Maize (Zea mays) pollen is highly nutritious and can be used by predatory arthropods to supplement or replace a carnivorous diet. We demonstrate that maize pollen can be utilized by larvae of the green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) under laboratory conditions. Complete development on maize pollen was not possible, but 25% of neonates reached the third instar. When only ...

Effects of temperature, adult feeding, and host instar on life table parameters of Venturia canescens Gravenhorst (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) parasitizing larvae of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were studied in the laboratory. Experimental adults lived under various regimes of temperature (15, 20, 25, and 30 degrees C), food supply (with or without access to honey), and h...

Food characteristics strongly regulate digestive enzymatic activity of insects through direct influences on their midgut mechanisms. Insect performance is better on diets that contain nutrients in proportions that fit its digestive enzymes. Little is known about the influences of rearing history on parasitism success of Habrobracon hebetor Say. This research focused on the effect of nutrient re...