Food and nymph stage duration influence life table parameters of the predator Brontocoris tabidus (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Abstract

Food type is important for mass rearing of Brontocoris tabidus (Signoret) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), which preys on Lepidoptera defoliators in eucalyptus plantations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the duration of nymph instars, reproduction and the life expectancy table of the predator B. tabidus fed with or without Eucalyptus cloeziana plants and Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in the field. Brontocoris tabidus females were separated into those with short (a) or long (b) instar durations. Life expectancy (ex) of B. tabidus females from nymphs with short stage duration, reared on E. cloeziana with prey was higher than those from long nymph stage with or without plant material. Feeding on plant material and/or prey changes life table parameters for the predator B. tabidus. Therefore, B. tabidus should be reared with prey and E. cloeziana to improve the mass production of this predator for biological control of defoliating caterpillars in eucalypt plantations.