Mass rearing of a tropical minute pirate bug, Orius pumilio (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae)

Abstract

Mass-reared colonies of Orius pumilio were monitored to establish growth and development parameters. Mass colonies had maximal oviposition from 16 d to 31 d after establishment with eggs 0-7 d old, peaking at 26 d. The difference in accumulation of yolk protein in females denied an oviposition substrate vs. those provided substrate showed that females from 24-d to 31-d colonies had the capacity to produce the largest amounts of egg material. Time to 50% egg hatch was 104 h. Adult eclosion occurred at 16.5 d (s = 0.3) after oviposition. Time to first egg deposition was 5.3 d (s = 1.6) after adult eclosion. These parameters show that O. pumilio can be efficiently reared in mass quantities as an augmentative biocontrol agent for flower thrips.