Journal of Economic Entomology (2019) 112, 219-225

Mariana S. Pascua, Margarita Rocca, Patrick De Clercq and Nancy M. Greco (2019)
Host plant use for oviposition by the insidious flower bug (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae)
Journal of Economic Entomology 112 (1), 219-225
Abstract: The availability of oviposition sites for the predators of arthropod pests is crucial for the success of biological control. The resources for oviposition and offspring survival offered to the predators by crops and the surrounding natural vegetation are relevant in the context of conservation biological control. The endophytic oviposition of Orius insidiosus (Say) depends on the characteristics of the plant tissues. We thus examined, by single- and multiple-choice tests, 1) the oviposition of O. insidiosus in strawberry, analyzing the tissue characteristics of the different plant structures, and 2) the preference for oviposition among strawberry, tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, and the wild South-American poppy Bidens pilosa L. (Asterales: Asteraceae). The calyx and flower petiole received more eggs than the other structures. The thickness of the external tissues did not affect oviposition. All structures of the different plants tested offer sufficient space to house eggs, except for the leaflet lamina. Bidens pilosa was preferred by ovipositing O. insidiosus over the other plants tested. The cultivation of this plant in proximity to strawberry and other horticultural crops could constitute a promising strategy for augmenting the resources for oviposition for this predator.
(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): Margarita Rocca, Patrick De Clercq, Nancy Mabel Greco

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Orius insidiosus (predator)