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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #399356
Research Project: Managing Invasive Weeds and Insect Pests Using Biologically-Based Methods

Location: Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research

Title: Biological control of selected invasive insect pests

Author
item Legaspi, Jesusa

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/24/2022
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris is a generalist predator known to feed on over 75 insect species, several of which are important invasive insect pests. A substantial body of knowledge from our research studies on the ecology of this predator will be presented. We studied this predator’s basic life history, development, reproduction, predation, gross physiology, and population dynamics. Very little work has been done on ovigeny (process of egg production and development in adult insects) in insect predators. “Pro-ovigenic” adult insects emerge with a fixed complement of mature eggs; whereas, “synovigenic” species continuously produce and develop eggs throughout adulthood. Our research on ovigeny of P. maculiventris is one of the first studies on predators. We documented that P. maculiventris are synovigenic. The results of our research will aid in developing integrated and sustainable pest management strategies against major insect pests in agricultural crops.