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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Poplarville, Mississippi » Southern Horticultural Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #135689
Title: EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE AND WATER SOURCE ON DERAEOCORIS NEBULOSUS (UHLER) (HEMIPTERA: MIRIDAE), A PREDACIOUS PLANT BUG

Author
item Boyd Jr, David
item ALVERSON, DAVID - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Journal of Entomological Sciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/21/2004
Publication Date: 7/1/2004
Citation: Boyd Jr, D.W., Alverson, D.R. 2004. Effects of temperature and water source on deraeocoris nebulosus (uhler) (hemiptera: miridae), a predacious plant bug. Journal of Entomological Sciences. 39: 202-213

Interpretive Summary: To use an insect as a control agent for other insects, certain biological parameters need to be assessed. To determine the potential of a plant bug that eats other insects as a control agent, we studied the bug's development in regards to temperature and water source. We found that the bug develops faster at higher temperatures and that below a certain temperature no development occurred. We found that the bug can develop with or without water. We found that the bug does not use plant material to develop faster. This information will be used to better rear the insect for mass production and to determine the best conditions to use the bug to reduce insect problems.

Technical Abstract: The development of D. nebulosus was studied in relation to temperature and water source. Development time for D. nebulosus was linear between 20 and 30 C, allowing the use of a linear equation to calculate degree days. The eggs of D. nebulosus required 111.1 degree days over a threshold of 13.9 C to complete development. Nymphal development for males and females of D. nebulosus was about 1.5 times faster at 25 C than at 20 C, 1.5 times faster at 30 C than at 25 C, and almost 2.5 times faster at 30 C than at 20 C. Males developed 2 days faster than females (protandry) at 20 C, but did not develop faster at the other two temperatures. This study provides the first record of temperature-regulated protandry in insects. Nymphs of D. nebulosus required 166.7 degree days over a threshold of 12.7 C for males and 15.2 C for females. Preoviposition period was almost 12 days at 20 C and about 6 days at 25 and 30 C. Water source (free water, sugar water, or leaf) did not affect the development of D. nebulosus when fed moth eggs.