ARTIFICIAL OVIPOSITION SUBSTRATE FOR REARING ORIUS-INSIDIOSUS (HEMIPTERA, ANTHOCORIDAE)

Artificial rearing and releases of Orius insidiosus (Say) and other Orius spp. have been proposed for the biological control of Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande and other pests. Although green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is used as an ovipositional medium by commercial insectaries in the mass rearing of Orius spp., it is not an optimum substrate because it may be unavailable during the winter and it may become contaminated with pathogens or pesticide residues. An artificial ovipositional medium for O. insidiosus made from carrageenan salt of potassium chloride and covered with paraffin wax is proposed. Field-collected O. insidiosus fed on F. occidentalis larvae were studied in a climatic chamber at 25-degrees-C for daily oviposition rate, and at 25 and 10-degrees-C for 5 days for egg eclosion rate. Mean preimaginal developmental time for nymphs from eggs laid on the two media was not significantly different; development on both substrates averaged 9.8 days. The percentage of females produced was not significantly different from eggs laid on the artificial substrate (45.5%) or on beans (36.4%). This gelatin substrate can be used successfully as an oviposition medium for 0. insidiosus. An artificial substrate is useful in mass rearing of insects because the medium is available for use at any time of the year, and it reduces the likelihood of colony contamination by pathogens and pesticide residues. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.