Suitability of different substrates for oviposition of the predator Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae)Orius insidiosus (Say) females lay eggs inside plant tissue. An obstacle for its mass rearing is the selection of a plant that is suitable and well-accept by the female for oviposition. The objectives of this work were to evaluate the preference and the suitability of different plant structures as ovipositional substrates for O. insidiosus. The trials were conducted in climatic chamber at 25 ± 1°C, RH 70 ± 10% and photophase 12h. The plant sites as amaranth stem (Amaranthus virides L.), common bean's stem and pod (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), green bean's pod (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and farmer's friend inflorescence (Bidens pilosa L.) were evaluated in no-choice and choice tests. The broadleaf button weed stem (Spermacoce latifola Aubl.) was also used to evaluate the suitability on the reproductive parameters. The females of O. insidiosus preferred to oviposit in farmer's friend inflorescence in no-choice and choice tests. The pre-oviposition period was affected by the plant site used as an ovipositional substrate, being shorter in farmer's friend inflorescence (3.0 days) and in common bean (both on stem (3.1 days) and pod (3.7 days) compared to all substrates evaluated. The oviposition period and the longevity were about three or four times shorter on broadleaf button weed stem (8.9 days). The total number of eggs/ female was higher in farmer's friend inflorescence (163.3 eggs). The results indicated the preference and suitability of farmer's friend inflorescence as an ovipositional substrate for O. insidiosus, in which the females showed better reproductive performance.
Preference; reproduction; massal rearing
