Temperature influence on the reproduction of Podisus nigrispinus, a predator of the noctuid larva Alabama argillacea

Abstract

The influence of temperature on thereproduction and longevity of Podisusnigrispinus (Dallas) (Heteroptera:Pentatomidae) fed with Alabamaargillacea (Hübner) (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) larvae was studied. This predatorwas reared at constant temperatures of 20, 23,25, 28, 30 and 33 ± 0.2 °C, all atrelative humidity of 60 ± 10%, and aphotoperiod of L:D 14:10. Fecundity of P.nigrispinus at the various temperatures rangedfrom 401.2 (33 °C) to 841.3 (28 °C) eggs/female. The preoviposition,oviposition peak, and declining ovipositionperiods of P. nigrispinus were affectedby 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; andduration 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) to88.6 (20 °C) days, and from 42.7 (33 °C); to 114.3 (20 °C) days,respectively. These data are useful in relationto the development of population dynamicsmodels to underpin programmes of biological control.