Effects of Various Items, Host Plants, and Temperatures on the Development and Survival of Macrolophus pygmaeus Rambur (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Nymphal development and survival of Macrolophus pygmaeus Rambur (Hemiptera: Miridae) on various host plants, in the presence and absence of various insect prey, and on bee pollen and pollen from Ecbalium elaterium L. (Cucurbitaceae) in various combinations were studied. The effect of temperature on the development and mortality of M. pygmaeus nymphs was also studied. Experiments were conducted in temperature cabinets maintained at 65 ± 5% RH, 16L:8D h photoperiod, and constant temperatures, depending on the experiment. Results demonstrated that M. pygmaeus can successfully complete its development on tomato, eggplant, cucumber, pepper, and green beans in the absence of insect prey. In the presence of insect prey, M. pygmaeus had the shortest period of nymphal development on eggplant with Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) followed by Myzus persicae (Sulzer), Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), Aphis gossypii Glover, and Tetranychus urticae Koch. Mortality of M. pygmaeus nymphs was relatively higher in the absence than in the presence of prey on various host plants but was not considered a factor restricting predator establishment. M. pygmaeus completed its development, even in the absence of prey, under a range of temperatures from 15 to 30°C on tomato, with optimum development at 30°C. Bee pollen and pollen from E. elaterium, when offered separately, were sufficient to support successful predator nymphal development and survival. Bee pollen contributed considerably to the development and survival of the nymphs when it was included in diets containing other food sources, like eggplant leaves and M. persicae.