Functional response of the predatory species Orius albidipennis Reuter (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) to two life stages of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

Abstract The whitefly species, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is an important pest of many vegetable crops in the world. To evaluate the potential of the predatory species, Orius albidipennis Reuter (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) in pest control, functional responses of the predator to different densities of eggs and third instar nymphs of the whitefly were determined under the laboratory conditions. Densities of (5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35) eggs and/or third instar nymphs per cucumber leaf disc were exposed to 1-day-old adults of the predator for 24-h period. The logistic regression analysis and Roger’s model were used for determination of type and parameters of the predator’s functional responses, respectively. The results showed that O. albidipennis exhibited type II and III functional responses, when fed on the whitefly eggs and third instar nymphs, respectively. The handling times (T h ) of O. albidipennis were calculated to be 0. 35 h and 1. 01 h, when it was fed on eggs and third instar nymphs of B. tabaci. The attack rate value (a) of the bug were calculated as 0.0723 h−1 on eggs, and the constant (b) was 0.0069, when it preyed on the third instar nymphs of the whitefly. The maximum attack rate (T/Th) was calculated as 68.39 eggs and 23.20 third instar nymphs. It could be concluded that O. albidipennis was efficient in controlling B. tabaci. However, further studies in the greenhouse and field conditions are needed