Assessment of Pristhesancus plagipennis (Walker) (Hemiptera : Reduviidae) as an augmented biological control in cotton and soybean crops

Third-instar nymphs of the Australian assassin bug, Pristhesancus plagipenn is (Walker) were released into cotton and soybean plots at a number of rele ase densities to test their biological control potential. The number of Hel icoverpa spp. larvae in cotton was reduced with the release of three or mor e P. plagipennis nymphs per m crop row. In the soybeans, populations of gre en mirids, Creontiades dilutus (Stal), and looper caterpillars, Chrysodeixi s spp., were significantly reduced when P. plagipennis were released at 2 n ymphs per Iu crop row. The potential yield of cotton (but not soybean) was increased in the plots to which P. plagipennis were added. The data suggest that P. plagipennis has the capacity to be an effective biological control agent of soybean and cotton insect pests when released inundatively.