A comparative study on demography of predatory bug, Nesidiocoris tenuis feeding on Ephestia kuehniella and Tuta absoluta eggs

The predatory bug, Nesidiocoris tenuis is an effective biocontrol agent against Tuta absoluta and Trialeurodes vaporariorum in tomato greenhouses. The life table parameters of the predator were compared using Ephestia kuehniella and T. absoluta eggs on tomato leaflets under laboratory conditions. The data analysis was performed using age–stage two-sex life-table theory. The mean premature periods of the predator were 24.15 ± 0.23 and 29.58 ± 0.47 days feeding on E. kuehniella and T. absoluta eggs, respectively. Furthermore, the female and male longevities were 46.58 ± 3.9, 42.64 ± 4.17 and 47.39±0.72, 43.62±0.73 days on the above-mentioned eggs, respectively. Total fecundity of N. tenuis feeding on E. kuehniella and T. absoluta eggs was 79.08 ± 14.91 and 66 ± 3.53 eggs/female, respectively. Eventually, the population growth parameters were estimated: intrinsic rate of increase (r) 0.078 ± 0.009 and 0.084 ± 0.006 day-1, finite rate of increase (λ) 1.082 ± 0.01 and 1.087 ± 0.006 day-1, net reproductive rate (R0) 17.88 ± 5.55 and 22.42 ± 4.46 offspring/individual, gross reproductive rate (GRR) 66.41 ± 17.91 and 56.85 ± 6.62 offspring/individual, and mean generation time (T) 36.10 ± 1.04 and 37.24 ± 0.70 days, on the respective prey. However, there was not any significant difference between predators reared on E. kuehniella and T. absoluta eggs considering demographic parameters. In an applied conclusion, N. tenuis can be mass reared on E. kuehniella eggs and then be released against T. absoluta, especially in greenhouse environments, without any concern over possible decline on its demographic potential.