Engytatus varians (Distant) (HEMIPTERA: MIRIDAE), PREFERENCIA POR SEXO SOBRE NINFAS DE ETAPAS TEMPRANAS DEL PSÍLIDO DEL TOMATE

Abstract

The zoophytophageous predator Engytatus varians (Distant) (Heteroptera: Miridae) has shown great potential as a biological control agent against the tomato psyllid Bactericera cockerelli (Sulcer) (Hemiptera:
Triozidae), one of the most important pests of several vegetable crops. In this study, evaluated separately the predation
by mirid females and males on the second, third, fourth, and fifth instar of B. cockerelli. Females and males of the predator consumed more second and third instar than fourth and fifth instar of the prey. Based on these results, in the second part of this study, the consumption of second and third instar of B. cockerelli by females and males of E. varians of between 9 and 21 days of age was determined in seven different expositions (each 48 h of duration). The predation of females was 1.6 and 3.6 times higher than in males in all bioassayed ages. Also, the total cumulative consumption of B. cockerelli nymphs by female of the predator was 3 times higher than in males.