OVERWINTERING BIOLOGY OF THE PREDATORY BUG ORIUS-ALBIDIPENNIS (HEMIPTERA, ANTHOCORIDAE) IN ISRAEL

The predatory bug Orius albidipennis (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) overwinters in Israel as adults. Oviposition continues irrespective of day length, but stops almost completely when the mean temperature drops below 15 degrees C (beginning in December). During winter months, the outdoor females enter reproductive diapause, and resume oviposition in during March and April. All first instar nymphs die at low temperatures, whereas approximately 20% of the nymphs of later instars may survive and mature. Dense populations of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, develop outdoors in Israel about a month before the peak in population of O. albidipennis, and have the opportunity to cause much damage. Since the Israeli O. albidipennis does not enter diapause under short day photophase, it might be an efficient predator of F. occidentalis in greenhouses in countries of northern latitude.