Impact of food diversity on biological parameters of Apolygus lucorum (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae)
Keywords:
Helicoverpa armigera, predation, development, fecundity, mirid bugAbstract
Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae) is an important insect pest of cotton and other crops, but the species also feeds on some insect pests. In this study, the effect of 5 food condition treatments, including corn kernel, cotton leaves, eggs of Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a combination of corn + H. armigera eggs, and of cotton leaves + H. armigera eggs, on the biological parameters of A. lucorum was evaluated in the laboratory. Mixed foods (e.g., corn + H. armigera eggs) significantly increased nymphal survival, prolonged adult longevity, and improved female fecundity. The survival rate of nymphs with only H. armigera egg was the lowest, and development times with cotton leaves were the longest. Under mixed food conditions, nymphs preyed on more eggs in the combination with cotton leaves than with corn. These results indicate that A. lucorum does have a certain ability to prey on H. armigera eggs, but that during the growth and development of A. lucorum, plant food is still necessary for development.
Resumen
Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae) es una plaga importante del algodón y otros cultivos, pero la especie también es un depredador de algunas plagas de insectos. En este estudio, se evaluó en el laboratorio el efecto de 5 tratamientos de condiciones de alimentos, incluyendo: grano de maíz, hojas de algodón, huevos de Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), una combinación de maíz + huevos de H. armigera, y hojas de algodón + huevos de H. armigera, sobre los parámetros biológicos de A. lucorum. Los alimentos mixtos (por ejemplo, maíz + huevos de H. armigera) aumentó significativamente la sobrevivencia de las ninfas, prolongó la longevidad de adultos, y mejoró la fecundidad de las hembras. La tasa de sobrevivencia de las ninfas alimentadas con solamente huevos de H. armigera fue la más baja, y el tiempo de desarrollo de las alimentadas con hojas de algodón fue el más largo. En condiciones de alimentos mixtos, las ninfas se alimentaron de más huevos en la combinación con hojas de algodón que con el maíz. Estos resultados indican que A. lucorum tiene una cierta capacidad para comer los huevos de H. armigera, pero durante el crecimiento y desarrollo de A. lucorum, el alimento de la planta es todavía necesario para el desarrollo.
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- Fig. 1 Fresh mass (X±SE) of A.lucorum nymph and adult fed on different foods. Bars topped by the different lowercase letter represent means that are statistically different among different foods
- Fig. 2 Number (X±SE) of H.armigera egg preyed by A.lucorum for each nymph instar. Bars topped by the different lowercase letter represent means that are statistically different among different foods
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