EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY, AND PREY DENSITY ON FEEDING RATE OF THE STRIPED EARWIG (DERMAPTERA, LABIDURIDAE)

We measured the feeding rate of the striped earwig, Labidura riparia ( Pallas) on third-instar fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Sm ith), at three constant temperatures and at three humidities. Striped earwigs ate more larvae at 30-degrees-C than at 25 or 35-degrees-C. Hu midity did not affect feeding rate. Rogers' random predator equation d escribed the effects of prey density on feeding at 30-degrees-C and 80 % RH. Search rates were almost-equal-to 1,127 and 4,355 cm2/d, and han dling rates were 20 and 22.1 prey per day for males and females, respe ctively. Females consumed more prey than males. The striped earwig app ears to be an excellent biological control agent for arthropod pests i n row crops.