Reproduction and Development ofOrius insidiosusin a Blue Light-Supplemented Short Photoperiod,

An important limitation in using the insidious flower bug,Orius insidiosus(Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), as a biological control agent in north temperate winter greenhouse crop production is its tendency to enter reproductive diapause during short photoperiods. Laboratory experiments assessed the effect of a blue light-supplemented short photoperiod over a range of temperature regimes on female reproductive diapause induction, nymph development and survival, ovarian maturation period, and oviposition ofO. insidiosus.In experiment one, allO. insidiosuslife stages were exposed to a broad-spectrum photoperiod of 15:9 (L:D) h, a blue light-supplemented photoperiod of 9:15 (L:D) h, consisting of 9 h broad-spectrum light followed by 6 h blue light, or a broad-spectrum photoperiod of 9:15 (L:D) h, all at 24 ± 1°C. Approximately 75% of mated females reproduced in the broad-spectrum long photoperiod and the blue light-supplemented short photoperiod regimes, whereas over 50% of the bugs diapaused in the broad-spectrum short photoperiod regime. There was no difference among the light treatments for all other measured responses. In experiment two, allO. insidiosuslife stages were exposed to the blue light supplemented short photoperiod over a range of temperature regimes (19–28°C). At least 90% of mated females reproduced at each temperature. A linear rela tionship occurred for temperature and nymph development and for temperature and ovarian maturation period. The oviposition rate was similar at 22°, 25°, and 28°C. This study indicates the potential for using supplemental blue light to enhanceO. insidiosusreproduction in a short photoperiod and may be important as a biological control strategy in winter greenhouse production systems.