EFFECTS OF PREY SPECIES ON DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTION OF THE PREDATOR LYCTOCORIS-CAMPESTRIS (HETEROPTERA, ANTHOCORIDAE)

The effects of selected prey species on life history characteristics o f Lyctocoris campestris (F.), a predator of stored-product insects, we re examined in the laboratory at 30 +/- 1-degrees-C, 70 +/- 5% RH, and 16:8 (L:D) h. Newly emerged nymphs (n = 40) were reared singly on eac h of eight prey species and followed through all life stages until the predator died. Prey consisted of final instars of test species that w ere killed by freezing. Life table statistics were used to compare the predator's potential dynamics on different prey regimes. Developmenta l period of nymphs was the longest (27.8 d) on Trichoplusia ni (Hubner ), a nonstored-product pest, followed by Trogoderma variabile Ballion (25.7 d), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (25.3 d), Oryzaephilus surinamensi s (L.) (24.8 d), Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (24.3 d), Plodia interpunc tella (Hubner) (22.6 d), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (21.8 d), and th e shortest on Cadra cautella (Walker) (21.6 d), all stored-product pes ts. The proportion of nymphs surviving to adulthood was also affected by prey species. Prey species significantly affected the preovipositio n period of the adult females. The preoviposition period was shortest on P. interpunctella (9.0 d), and longest on T. variabile (16.9 d). Ov iposition period did not differ among the eight prey species tested. T otal fecundity was higher on C. cautella, P. interpunctella, and T. va riabile than on L. serricorne, T. castaneum, R. dominica, and O. surin amensis; and lowest on T. ni. There was a strong correlation (r = 0.75 3) between oviposition period and fecundity across all species. Ovipos ition rate (number of eggs per female/d) was highest on P. interpuncte lla (4.3), and lowest on T. ni (1.99), giving finite rates of increase (lambda) of 1.0757 and 1.0379, respectively. Life table statistics sh owed that P interpunctella, T. castaneum, C. cautella, and L. serricor ne were the most suitable prey for L. campestris, followed by T. varia bile, O. surinamensis, and R. dominica, with T. ni least suitable.