[Weight gain of the predator Podisus distinctus (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) with combinations of the preys Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae)].
Little is known about Podisus distinctus (Stal) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) one of the Asopinae species with good possibilities for mass rearing and releasing against defoliator caterpillars in eucalyptus reforested areas in Brazil. We evaluated the impact of prey combinations on weight of nymphs and adults of P. distinctus. The prey were Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) and Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). The experiment was developed under 25 +/- 0.5 degrees C, 60 +/- 10% R.H. and photophase of 14 hr, with nymphs of P. distinctus individualized in Petri dishes and fed as: T1-larvae of M. domestica during its whole nymphal phase: T2-larvae of M. domestica during its II instar and of T. molitor during the other instars: T3-larvae of M. domestica during II and III instars and of T. molitor during the other instars: T4-larvae of M. domestica during II, III and IV instars and of T. molitor during the V instar; T5- larvae of T. molitor during all instars. P. distinctus presents lower weight when fed with larvae of M. domestica. For this reason it is recommended to feed P. distinctus with T. molitor during its whole nymphal phase or with larvae of M. domestica only during II and III instars and T. molitor during IV and V instars.
Matos Neto
Fausto de Costa
Fde C
Departamento de Fitotecnia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36571-000, Vigosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil.
de Oliveira
Harley Nonato
HN
Zanuncio
José Cola
JC
Holtz
Anderson Mathias
AM
Oliveira
Isaias
I
Fialho
Maria do Carmo Queiroz
Mdo C
D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D020062:Heteroptera / Q000254:growth & development*; D006793:Houseflies; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D013712:Tenebrio; D015430:Weight Gain