Population Parameters of Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter (Heteroptera: Miridae) Reared on Eggs of Natural and Factitious Prey

Abstract

The biology of Cyrtorhinus lividipennis was studied on its natural prey, Peregrinus maidis, and a factitious prey, Ceratitis capitata. The body dimensions of the predators fed on these two types of prey were equal. The duration of egg and nymphal instars were not significantly different; however, the longevity of adults fed on natural prey was much longer than those fed on the factitious prey. The fecundity of C. lividipennis on P. maidis and C capitata were identical. The predator had equal rates of increase when reared on the natural and factitious prey. Therefore, P. maidis and C capitata were equally suitable as prey of C. lividipennis, suggesting that C. capitata could be used as the prey in the mass rearing of C. lividipennis.