ABILITY OF ORIUS-INSIDIOSUS (HEMIPTERA, ANTHOCORIDAE) TO SEARCH FOR, FIND, AND ATTACK EUROPEAN CORN-BORER AND CORN-EARWORM EGGS ON CORN

The ability of Orius insidiosus (Say) to search for, find, and destroy eggs of European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), and corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), was investigated in the field. Mobility of O. insidiosus on individual corn plants, attack rates on corn borer and corn earworm eggs, and searching capacity on corn plants were studied. Egg position on the corn plant and predator density affected egg mortality. Mortality rates rose with increased predator numbers. O. insidiosus searched in the corn silks first, followed by searching on the corn leaves but not in the tassel.