A method for mass rearing the aphid predatorAnthocoris nemorum

Abstract

SUMMARY Anthocoris nemorum is currently under investigation as a potential agent for the control of damson‐hop aphid Phorodon humuli on hops. Detailed here is a method of rearing A. nemorum to provide a large number of insects with a predetermined age structure for mass release in the field. It is designed to minimise culture maintenance, with components and materials which are readily obtained as, or can be modified from, stock items. Initial cultures are collected from the field, as adults, in early autumn and artificially overwintered. These are recovered in early spring, with females being placed in oviposition chambers, and the harvesting of ova regulated to provide synchronisation of eclosion within batches. Larvae are reared until they reach the desired instar for mass release and then held in controlled cold storage until required.

The suitability of some natural and artificial substrates as oviposition sites for the insidious flower bug, Orius insidiosus

“…However, some species have been shown to accept artificial substrates as oviposition sites in the absence of specific odors. For example the anthocorid A. nemorum will oviposit into filter paper moistened with water (Parker, 1981). Mechanical stimuli such as surface texture, stickiness, and pubescence can also affect oviposition (Hattori, 1988;Richardson, 1925).…”

“…Kingsley & Harrington (1981 used alfalfa sprouts as oviposition substrates when rearing O. insidiosus for their diapause termination and developmental threshold studies. Parker (1981) describes the successful use of filter paper moistened with water as an oviposition medium for the aphid predator Anthocoris nemorum (L.) (Anthocoridae). A successful artificial oviposition substrate for O. insidiosus has been described by Castanfi6 & Zalom (1994).…”

Temperature effect on the predation rate of Anthocoris nemorum (Het.: Anthocoridae) on cabbage aphids (Hom.: Aphididae)

“…The A. nemorum culture founders were field‐collected from April to May 2007 by sweep‐netting herbaceous vegetation [hawthorn ( Crataegus laevigata L.), stinging nettle ( Urtica dioica L.)] of hedgerows around Research Centre Flakkebjerg, in Southern Zealand, Denmark (55°18′53.17′N, 11°23′42.66′E). Rearing was moderated after Parker (1981). A. nemorum were reared in Petri dishes (9 cm diameter) with filter paper and a piece of folded paper towel for hiding.…”

Influences of temperature and humidity on the life history parameters and prey consumption of Anthocoris minki Dohrn (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae)

“…The effectiveness of a predator for biological control should be assessed based on its demographic parameters at different temperatures and relative humidities before fieldwork. Anthocorids have been successfully reared on Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs (Parker 1981;Samsoe-Petersen et al 1989;Ohta 2001;Yano et al 2002;Yanik andUgur 2002, 2005). Rearing of A. minki on E. kuehniella eggs was achieved by Yanik and Unlu (2010), who determined the development time and prey consumption of nymphs; however, there have been no studies on the demographic characteristics and prey consumption of the adult stage of A. minki on E. kuehniella eggs.…”