EFFICIENCY OF 4 HETEROPTERA AS PREDATORS OF APHIS-GOSSYPII AND MACROSIPHUM-EUPHORBIA (HOM., APHIDIDAE)

Predation rate and nymphal development time were determined for four p redatory bugs (Dicyphus tamaninii Wagner and Macrolophus caliginosus W agner [Het.: Miridae], Orius laevigatus (Fieber) and O. majusculus (Re uter) [Het.: Anthocoridae], on cucumber with Aphis gossypii Glover (He m.: Aphididae) as prey and for both mirids also on tomato with Macrosi phum euphorbiae (Thomas) as prey. All four predator species were able to achieve adulthood feeding on both aphids. The developmental period of D. tamaninii nymphs was the longest and the shortest was for O. maj usculus. During nymphal development D. tamaninii consumed greater numb ers of both aphids than M. caliginosus, while Oi-ius' consumption of A . gossypii was intermediate. Average daily predation was higher for D. tamaninii than for M. caliginosus, but was not different from both Or ius species. Female D. tamaninii exhibited a typical type-II functiona l response when preying on varying densities of A. gossypii nymphs.