Biological aspects and predatory abilities of hemipterans attacking stored-product insects

Abstract

The subject of this study was to examine biological aspects and predatory abilities of predatory bugs that prey on stored-product insects. Biological controls in stored products are being regarded with increasing interest since they are nontoxic and do not damage human health or the environment. Several species of predatory bugs have been studied as biological control agents. Specifically, Xylocoris flavipes (Reuter) is the most studied candidate biological control agent among predatory bugs. X. flavipes is advantageous because it has a high population increase capacity and wide distribution. X. flavipes has been reported to suppress populations of small insects, but it can not predate large insects and internal grain feeding insects. As Amphibolus venator (Klug), Peregrinator biannulipes (Montrouzier & Signoret) and Joppeicus paradoxus Puton can attack large insects, more research should be carried out on the suppression effects of these bugs. A combination of several biological control agents that can attack different types of insects will be needed to control whole pest complexes in various stored environments.