Numerical Demographic Response of Predatory Bug, Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter (Hem.: Miridae) to the Eggs of Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lep.: Gelechiidae)

Tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta Meyrick is an invasive quarantine pest that causes high losses on tomato crops in Iran. Predatory bug, Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter is cosidered recently as potential biological control agent of T. absoluta. In this study, some biological attributes of N. tenuis were stuided on the eggs of T. absoluta at 25±0.5˚C, 65±5% RH, and 16: 8 h (L: D) photoperiod. A food supply of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 prey eggs was provided as high density (above satiation level) for the five nymphal stages and adult N. tenuis, respectively. The prey densities of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 eggs were used as intermediate density (satiation level) and 2, 5, 7, 10, 12 and 15 prey eggs as low density (under satiation level) for the same developmental stages and finaly a no prey treatment also was included. The developmental time of immature stages, male longevity and females longevity were 21.62±0.19, 18.2±1.02 and 24.21±1.70d on upper prey density respectively. The average fecundity was 100.71±16.26 nymphs on the same treatment. Net reproduction rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and mean generation time (T) were 40.57±10.48 nymphs/generation, 0.119±0.009 d-1and 30.88±0.543 d respectively. The bugs developed no more than 2nd nymphal stage on tomato leaves without prey supply. All life table parameters significantly affected by prey density. These results suggest that N. tenuis can persist in suboptimal condition and continue control of tomato leafminer as long as prey reservoirs are not fully depleted.