Impact of Food Diversity on Biological Parameters of Apolygus lucorum (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae)

Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae) is an important insect pest of cotton and other crops, but the species also feeds on some insect pests. In this study, the effect of 5 food condition treatments, including corn kernel, cotton leaves, eggs of Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a combination of corn + H. armigera eggs, and of cotton leaves + H. armigera eggs, on the biological parameters of A. lucorum was evaluated in the laboratory. Mixed foods (e.g., corn + H. armigera eggs) significantly increased nymphal survival, prolonged adult longevity, and improved female fecundity. The survival rate of nymphs with only H. armigera egg was the lowest, and development times with cotton leaves were the longest. Under mixed food conditions, nymphs preyed on more eggs in the combination with cotton leaves than with corn. These results indicate that A. lucorum does have a certain ability to prey on H. armigera eggs, but that during the growth and development of A. lucorum, plant food is still necessary for development.