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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Biological Control of Insects Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #84261
Title: PREY PRESENTATION TO PREDATORY PENTATOMIDS FOR IN VITRO REARING

Author
item GRUENHAGEN, NED - UNIV OF MISSOURI
item Coudron, Thomas
item Castille, Andrea

Submitted to: National Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/18/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Selection of prey for feeding by Podisus maculiventris and Perillus bioculatus was studied in the laboratory to facilitate development of in vitro rearing methods for augmentative biological control. Large and small "artificial prey" domes, comprised of diet encapsuled in parafilm, were presented to predators in choice tests. Consumption from small "prey" domes was greater than from large "prey" domes in arenas with 2nd instar predators, although the difference was not statistically significant. In contrast, consumption from large "prey" domes was favored over small "prey" domes in arenas with 4th instar predators. When large and small live Trichoplusia ni prey were presented to 2nd and 4th instar Podisus maculiventris, the number of large and small prey attacked was directly related to their availability. The implications of these results for presentation of food to pentatomids for in vitro rearing systems is discussed.