BioControl (2003) 48, 695-704

R.S. Medeiros, F.S. Ramalho, J.E. Serrão and J.C. Zanuncio (2003)
Temperature influence on the reproduction of Podisus nigrispinus, a predator of the noctuid larva Alabama argillacea
BioControl 48 (6), 695-704
Abstract: The influence of temperature on the reproduction and longevity of Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) fed with Alabama argillacea (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae was studied. This predator was reared at constant temperatures of 20, 23, 25, 28, 30 and 33 ± 0.2 °C, all at relative humidity of 60 ± 10%, and a photoperiod of L:D 14:10. Fecundity of P. nigrispinus at the various temperatures ranged from 401.2 (33 °C) to 841.3 (28 °C) eggs/female. The preoviposition, oviposition peak, and declining oviposition periods of P. nigrispinus were affected by temperature [preoviposition period: 4.0 (33 °C) to 13.2 (20 °C) days; duration of oviposition peak period: 9.0 (33 °C) to 33.0 (20 °C) days; and duration of declining oviposition period: 16.0 (33 °C) to 46.0 (20 °C) days]. Longevity of females and males of P. nigrispinus ranged from 28.4 (33 °C) to 88.6 (20 °C) days, and from 42.7 (33 °C); to 114.3 (20 °C) days, respectively. These data are useful in relation to the development of population dynamics models to underpin programmes of biological control.
(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): Francisco de Sousa Ramalho, José Eduardo Serrao, José Cola Zanuncio

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
population dynamics/epizootiology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Alabama argillacea
Podisus nigrispinus (predator)	Alabama argillacea