Determination of fitness traits of Orius strigicollis Poppius (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) on Pectinophora gossypiella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) using two-sex life table analysis

Abstract

Background Pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) is a destructive insect pest of cotton crops in China and globally, which is actively predated on by Orius strigicollis. Studies on the fitness or survival of O. strigicollis fed on P. gossypiella at different temperatures have not been reported. The fitness of O. strigicollis may be well explained using two-sex life table parameters. Thus, the present study provides important insights for the effective biocontrol of P. gossypiella. Methodology Considering the importance of fitness parameters and biocontrol, the present study explores the feeding potential and age-stage, two-sex life table traits of O. strigicollis on P. gossypiella eggs at different temperatures (24, 28 and 32 °C) in the laboratory. Results The intrinsic rate of increase (r) was higher at 28 °C (0.14 d−1) than at 24 °C (0.0052 d−1) and 32 °C (0.12 d−1). Similarly, the net reproductive rate (R0) was higher at 28 °C (17.63 offspring) than at 24 °C (1.13 offspring) and 32 °C (10.23 offspring). This concluded that the maximum feeding potential and growth capacity of O. strigicollis could be attained at 28 °C when fed on P. gossypiella eggs. O. strigicollis adults preferred to feed on P. gossypiella eggs compared with first instar larvae. Based on these results, the present study suggests that O. strigicollis represents a promising biological control agent against P. gossypiella eggs in cotton fields.

Influence of natural and non-natural diets on the fitness and rearing of Pectinophora gossypiella Saunders

“…As an alternative to natural diet, observing the fitness of P. gossypiella can be more convenient with alternative diet . Study of fitness parameters via two-sex life table is the most effective for describing the age-stage dynamic of both male and female insects 30 , 31 , 37 : as compared to old life table tools that only give the data on female adults only and cannot explain the age-stage parameter of male and female insects, while the Two-sex life table parameters of P. gossypiella had not been used on cotton-seed based artificial diet. Therefore, the two-sex life table features of P. gossypiella were described in our work for the first time.…”

“…And artificial diet must be have sufficient quality and quantity of protein and nutrients that are essentials for the fitness and reproduction of insects 29 , in other words artificial diet must be alternate to natural host that are easily available to insect in fields. Two-sex life traits are crucial when aiming at gaining a better understanding of a pest, e.g., when the population of pest or predator is vulnerable and resistant 30 – 32 .…”

Demographic Evaluation of the Control Potential of Orius minutus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) Preying on Dendrothrips minowai Priesner (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) at Different Temperatures

“…Previous reports about anthocorid predators are limited to the temperature influence on natural enemies and ignore or detached the temperature effect on pest and pattern interaction. For example, Orius strigicollis as a BCA has been reported for the thermal influence on the population growth without considering the simultaneous alert on its prey Pectinophora gossypiella at three constant temperatures (24,28, and 32 • C) [17]. Growth and development of Orius majusculuss were evaluated under nine constant temperature conditions ranging from 12 to 34 • C [18].…”

The predatory bug Orius strigicollis shows a preference for egg-laying sites based on plant topography

“…are widely used in biological control methods to control many pests worldwide because they exhibit a higher search efficiency for their host than other species and are fast-moving and active (Minks, Harrewijg & Helle, 1989). For example, Orius strigicollis Poppius (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) is an important native natural predator of a wide range of soft-bodied insect pests such as thrips, aphids, and mites in several agronomic systems (Cocuzza et al, 1997;Sengonca, Ahmadi & Blaeser, 2008;Zhang et al, 2012;Bonte & De Clercq, 2011) and feeds on lepidopteran pest eggs and young larvae (Bonte & De Clercq, 2011;Ali et al, 2020). There are several studies about O. strigicollis behavior that focus on its predatory advantages and its influence on agriculture (Zhou et al, 2006;Ali et al, 2020), but the mechanisms that influence the oviposition behavior of O. strigicollis based on plant characteristics remain poorly understood.…”

“…For example, Orius strigicollis Poppius (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) is an important native natural predator of a wide range of soft-bodied insect pests such as thrips, aphids, and mites in several agronomic systems (Cocuzza et al, 1997;Sengonca, Ahmadi & Blaeser, 2008;Zhang et al, 2012;Bonte & De Clercq, 2011) and feeds on lepidopteran pest eggs and young larvae (Bonte & De Clercq, 2011;Ali et al, 2020). There are several studies about O. strigicollis behavior that focus on its predatory advantages and its influence on agriculture (Zhou et al, 2006;Ali et al, 2020), but the mechanisms that influence the oviposition behavior of O. strigicollis based on plant characteristics remain poorly understood. However, studies on another zoophytophagous heteropteran, Orius insidiosus (Say), have reported that plant species, as well as the variations within each plant, significantly influence their oviposition behavior (Coll, 1996;Lundgren & Fergen, 2006;Pascua et al, 2019) and that they prefer to lay eggs on thinner epidermal plant surfaces, where the vesicular and cellular tissues are conducive to the survival and development of nymphs (Lundgen, Fergen & Riedell, 2008).…”