Evaluation of Orius laevigatus as a predator of Bemisia tabaci In Vitro

Salama, Nada; Emam, Azza; Washahy, Kadry; Gaffar, Saad

doi:10.21608/ajs.2022.128874.1474

Evaluation of Orius laevigatus as a predator of Bemisia tabaci In Vitro

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Central Laboratory of Organic Agriculture, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt

² Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, P.O. Box 68, Hadayek Shoubra 11241, Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/ajs.2022.128874.1474

Abstract

This study determined the ability of Orius laevigatus to consume different stages of Bemisia tabaci at various densities. Additionally, the use of B. tabaci as food and its effect on the life cycle parameters and female fecundity of Orius predator developmental stages were investigated. The results showed that O. laevigatus could consume whitefly at various stages and complete its preimaginal and postimaginal stages, with B. tabaci eggs, nymph instars, and adults as the only available food source. The consumption and fecundity of O. laevigatus were influenced by feeding on different stages of B. tabaci. Furthermore, the females of this predator consumed more eggs, fourth nymphal instar, and adults than the first, second, and third instar nymphs of B. tabaci on a different density level. The mean numbers of consumptions at different stages of B. tabaci increased with increasing prey densities. The result simply that O. laevigatus can be used as a predator in the biological control of tobacco whiteflies.

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