FOOD-CONSUMPTION AND GROWTH OF PODISUS-NI GRISPINUS (DALLAS) ON ALABAMA-ARGILLACEA (HUEBNER) UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS

The food consumption and growth of Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) nymphs on second, third, fourth, and fifth instar larvae of cotton leafworm (Alabama argillacea) were studied in the Biological Control Unit/Natio nal Center for Cotton Research/Embrapa, in Campina Grande, PB, Brazil. The results showed that: (1) food consumption and growth of P. nigris pinus is a function of the larvae size of A. argillacea and instar of the predator; (2) nymphs of P. nigrispinus show high rate of survival even under condition of food scarcity; (3) nymphs of P. nigrispinus un der conditions of food scarcity show lower growth; and (4) the amount of available food has influence on the physiological and biological st ate of P. nigrispinus.