Biology and functional response of the predatory bug Orius vicinus (Ribaut) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) on the cotton whitefly Bemisia tabaci Genn. (Hemiptera:Aleyrodidae)

In this study, the functional response and biology and life table parameters of the predatory bug Orius vicinus on Bemisia tabaci, a polyphagous pest of greenhouse vegetables, were examined. Egg hatching time, nymph development time and egg viability rate, adult preoviposition period (APOP), total preoviposition period (TPOP), fecundity and longevity of female and male individuals of O. vicinus fed on pre-adult stages of B. tabaci were investigated. Life table parameters, intrinsic rate of increase (r), net reproductive rate (R0), mean generation time (T) and finte rate of increase () were determined. The functional response of O. vicinus on the egg, larval and pupal stages of B. tabaci was determined separately. The experiments were carried out at 26 ± 1º C temperature and 16:8h light-dark conditions. Egg developmental time of 4.67±0.06 days, total nymph developmental time of 13.65±0.13 days, and a nymph viability rate of %77.32 were determined. The average number of eggs laid per female was 60.89 ±2.76. The average longevity of female individuals was 16.48 days and the average lifespan of males were determined 12.27 days. Adult preoviposition period (APOP) was determined 4.12±0.12, total preoviposition period (TPOP) was 22.67±0.22 days, and oviposition period of adults was determined as 11.23 days. Life table parameters were determined as "r" 0.113 net day-1, R0 24.84 days-1, 1.119 day-1 and T 28.4 days-1. The functional response of O. vicinus to different densities of eggs and instar stages of B. tabaci was determined as Type III response according to the Holling disc method. The fuctional response to the pupa stage was determined as Type II response according to the Holling disc method. Based on the results of the biology and life table parameters studies, it was observed that O.vicinus has high efficacy as a biological control agent against B. tabaci. Hence, O. vicinus could be used as an effective natural enemy in the integrated control of B. tabaci. The data obtained from this study may contribute to the biological control studies of B.tabaci. KEYWORDS: Bemisia tabaci, Biological Control, Orius vicinus, Life table parametrs, Functional respons