Life history and laboratory rearing of Emesaya b. brevipennis (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) in southern Illinois

The life history of Emesaya b. brevipennis (Say) was studied in southern Il linois from April to December 1998. The bug also was reared in the laborato ry on Drosophila sp. at 26 +/- 3.0 degreesC under a 16:8 (L:D) photoperiod. This bivoltine species apparently overwintered as eggs. First instars were found primarily from early to late May and mid-July to mid-August, second instars from late May to early June and from late July to mid-August, third instars from late May to mid-June and during August, fourth instars primar ily from early June to early July and early to late August, fifth instars p rimarily from mid-June to mid-September, and adults from late June to early December. In the laboratory, the incubation period averaged 33.91 d. The f ive nymphal stadia averaged 11.27, 7.84, 8.85, 11.14, and 16.75 d, respecti vely. Total developmental time averaged 89.76 d.