Life-history parameters and predation capacity of Macrolophus pygmaeus and Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae) on eggs of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

The life-history parameters and predation capacity of Macrolophus pygmaeus Rambur and Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) fed on eggs of Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) at 25 degrees C were investigated in the laboratory and analyzed based on the age-stage, two-sex life table. Also, we evaluated the survival and the duration of different stages of these two predators on cabbage plants without prey. The developmental times of different stages of M. pygmaeus and N. tenuis fed on the eggs of P. xylostella were significantly different. The nymphs of N. tenuis only survived until the fourth instar without prey, and nymphs of M. pygmaeus succeeded in completing the third instar without prey. The population and predation parameters of the two predators were statistically different. The total consumption rate of the two predators during the oviposition period was higher than the total consumption rate during the post oviposition period and the total preoviposition period. The highest predation rates for female adults of N. tenuis and M. pygmaeus were on days 33 and 31, respectively. The nymphs of N. tenuis only survived until the fourth instar without prey, and nymphs of M. pygmaeus succeeded in completing the third instar.