Effects of various items, host plants, and temperatures on the developmentand survival of Macrolophus pygmaeus Rambur (Hemiptera : Miridae)

Nymphal development and survival of Macrolophus pygmaeus Rambur (Hemiptera: Miridae) on various host plants, in the presence and absence of various in sect prey, and on bee pollen and pollen from Ecbalium elaterium L. (Cucurbi taceae) in various combinations were studied. The effect of temperature on the development and mortality of M. pygmaeus nymphs was also studied. Exper iments were conducted in temperature cabinets maintained at 65 +/- 5% RH, 1 6L:8D h photoperiod, and constant temperatures, depending on the experiment . Results demonstrated that M. pygmaeus can successfully complete its devel opment on tomato, eggplant, cucumber, pepper, and green beans in the absenc e of insect prey. In the presence of insect prey, IM. pygmaeus had the shor test period of nymphal development on eggplant with Trialeurodes vaporarior um (Westwood) followed by Myzus persicae (Sulzer), Macrosiphum euphorbiae ( Thomas), Aphis gossypii Glover, and Tetranychus urticae Koch. Mortality of M. pygmaeus nymphs was relatively higher in the absence than in the presenc e of prey on various host plants but was not considered a factor restrictin g predator establishment. M; pygmaeus completed its development, even in th e absence of prey, under a range of temperatures from 15 to 30 degrees C on tomato, with optimum development at 30 degrees C. Bee pollen and pollen fr om E. elaterium, when offered separately, were sufficient to support succes sful predator nymphal development and survival. Bee pollen contributed cons iderably to the development and survival of the nymphs when it was included in diets containing other food sources, like eggplant leaves and M. persic ae. (C) 2000 Academic Press.