A mass-rearing method for the assassin bug Pristhesancus plagipennis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

Pristhesancus plagipennis (Walker) is a predator of larvae and nymphs of many pestiferous insects for which natural enemies are not commercially available. This paper describes a containerized mass-rearing method for P. plagipennis using hot water-killed larvae of Tenebrio molitor (L.) and Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner). In addition, the effect of P. plagipennis density during nymphal rearing and adult oviposition was investigated. The rearing method minimizes P. plagipennis cannibalism, avoids the need for live insect prey, and is space and labor efficient. Larvae of the yellow mealworm, T. molitor, were the most suitable prey for minimizing nymphal development time and mortality while producing insects with the highest body weight. When reared on a diet of T. molitor, the optimum rearing density was 20-27 nymphs per 5-liter container. This rearing density minimized nymphal mortality to 16-22%. The optimum density for oviposition was 16 adults per 5-liter container, which provided the best compromise between egg production and space utilization. (C) 2000 Academic Press