BioControl (2002) 47, 657-666

Cristina Castañé, Javier Iriarte and Eric Lucas (2002)
Comparison of prey consumption by Dicyphus tamaninii reared conventionally, and on a meat-based diet
BioControl 47 (6), 657-666
Abstract: The zoophytophagous predator Dicyphus tamaninii Wagner (Heteroptera: Miridae) has been successfully reared for more than five generations on a meat-based diet, and in the absence of a plant as a substrate for oviposition and feeding. We compared the predation efficiency of D. tamaninii produced on this diet with those reared conventionally on Ephestia kuehniella eggs (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and tobacco plants. Their performances were evaluated on two prey, the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) and the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera: Aphididae). Their tendency to cannibalistic behaviour was also evaluated. Nymphs of D. tamaninii produced on the meat diet consumed a similar number of greenhouse whitefly pupae after 24 and 48 hours to nymphs reared by the conventional method. Diet-reared females consumed significantly more whitefly pupae after 24 and 48 hours than control females. When the cotton aphid was offered, diet-reared D. tamaninii nymphs and females consumed similar numbers of prey to control D. tamaninii. There was no significant increase in cannibalistic behaviour of diet-reared D. tamaninii after 3 and 5 days of interaction. These results show that, after five generations, the predation efficiency and the tendency to cannibalism of meat-reared D. tamaninii is similar to that of conventionally-reared individuals.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Cristina Castañe, Éric Lucas

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
rearing/culturing/mass production

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aphis gossypii
	Trialeurodes vaporariorum
Dicyphus tamaninii (predator)	Aphis gossypii
Dicyphus tamaninii (predator)	Trialeurodes vaporariorum