مقایسۀ جمعیت ‏نگاری سن شکارگر Nesidiocoris tenuis با تغذیه از تخم ‏های بید آردEphestia kuehniella و بید گوجه‏ فرنگی Tuta absoluta

The predatory bug, Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hem.: Miridae) has an effective role in controlling Tuta absoluta (Meyrick)(Lep.: Gelechiidae) and Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hom.: Aleyrodidae) in tomato greenhouses. The life table parameters of the predator were compared using Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) and T. absoluta eggs on tomato leaflets under laboratory conditions (25 ± 1◦C, 65±5 RH% and 16: 8 L: D). The data analysis was performed using age–stage two-sex life-table method. The immature stages’ periods of the predator averaged 24.15 ± 0.23 and 29.58 ± 0.47 days feeding on E. kuehniella and T. absoluta eggs, respectively. Furthermore, the female and male adults’ longevities were 46.58 ± 3.9, 42.64 ± 4.17 and 47.39 ± 0.72, 43.62 ± 0.73 days on the above-mentioned eggs, respectively. Fecundity of the predator bug feeding on E. kuehniella and T. absoluta eggs was 79.08 ± 14.91 and 66 ± 3.53 eggs/female, respectively. Eventually, the population growth parameters including intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), net reproductive rate (R0), gross reproductive rate (GRR) and mean generation time (T) were estimated as 0.078 ± 0.009, 0.084 ± 0.006 day-1, 1.082 ± 0.01, 1.087 ± 0.006 day-1, 17.88 ± 5.55, 22.42 ± 4.46 offspring/individual, 66.41 ± 17.91, 56.85 ± 6.62 offspring/individual and 36.10±1.04 and 37.24 ± 0.70 days reared on the respective prey. There was no any significant difference between predators reared on E. kuehniella and T. absoluta eggs considering demographic parameters. Hence, E. kuehniella eggs like T. absoluta eggs can be used for rearing of the predator bug without any concern over possible decline on its demographic potential.