OVIPOSITIONAL PREFERENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF EGGS IN SELECTED FIELD AND VEGETABLE CROPS BY NABIS-ROSEIPENNIS (HEMIPTERA, NABIDAE)

Hemipteran predator abundance varies significantly among crop species. Ovipositional preference by these predators for specific crops may he lp explain differences in predator abundance among crops. Ovipositiona l preferences of Nabis roseipennis Reuter between a preferred standard (soybean) and four crops (corn, tomato, tobacco and squash) were dete rmined in paired-choice tests under greenhouse conditions. Significant ly more eggs or egg groups were found in soybean than in corn and toma to. Squash was the only plant preferred for oviposition over soybean. Within-plant distribution of eggs varied among plant species and appea red to be independent of prey distribution. The specific site chosen f or oviposition in each plant species apparently was determined by plan t physical characteristics, possibly including rind toughness and, for tomato and tobacco, glandular trichome presence and age. Patterns of ovipositional preference were similar to previous observations of fiel d abundance and may be partially responsible for those patterns.