Feasibilty of Rearing of Predatory Bug Macrolophus pygmaeus Rambur (Hemiptera: Miridae) Using Urmia Lake Artemia (Artemia urmiana Gunther) under Laboratory Conditions

Macrolophus pygmaeus Rambur is an most omnivorous predator which has considered in integrated pest management programs, especially for greenhouse pest management. In this study, biological properties and life table statistics of M. pygmaeus by feeding on Artemia urmiana Gunther cysts and Ephestia kuehniella Zeller eggs were studied under laboratory conditions (25±1°C, 65±5 % relative humidity and 16:8h L: D photoperiod) with 60 replications. The pods of green bean Phaseoulus vulgaris L. served as oviposition substrate and the moisture source. Developmental time of nymphal stages which fed by of E. kuehniella eggs and Artemia cysts were 17.04±0.11, 18.06±0.18 d for males and 17.31±0.09, 18.17±0.15 d for females respectively and were significantly different as well as intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was 0.080±0.005 and 0.064±0.006 d–1 respectively. Also, net reproductive rate (R0) was 18.12±2.97 and 10.70±2.43 eggs/individual on those food regims respectively. Furthermore, mean generation time (T) was estimated as 35.93±0.33 and 36.66±0.53 d respectively. Meanwhile, the reproductive parameters on flour moth larvae have been significantly higher than Artemia cyst. The results showed that feeding on E. kuehniella reduces nymphal period, while increases productivity and longevity of adults. According to the present findings, E. kuehniella is more suitable prey for rearing of this predator, but in absence of access to E. kuehniella, rearing on Artemia cysts is also possible.