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Life history study of the mirid Tupiocoris cucurbitaceus feeding on Tuta absoluta eggs: implications for biological control and its combination with inherited sterility
Tuta absoluta
(Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a key pest of tomato crops.
Tupiocoris
cucurbitaceus
(Spinola) (Hemiptera: Miridae) is a neotropical predator capable of consuming
T. absoluta
eggs
.
We evaluated the life history traits of
T. cucurbitaceus
on three different diets:
T. absoluta
eggs from irradiated parental males and untreated parents, and
Sitotroga cerealella
(Olivier) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) eggs (control). The nymphal development of
T. cucurbitaceus
was reached in 13 days with a similar survival for all diets (58–65%). Mirid female longevity and oviposition period were statistically similar when the diets consisted of
T. absoluta
eggs from untreated parents and
S. cerealella
eggs, although the number of nymphs laid was larger with the second diet. Moreover, mirid females feeding on
T. absoluta
eggs from untreated parents lived longer and laid double number of nymphs than when fed on
T. absoluta
eggs from irradiated parental males. The highest intrinsic rate of increase (r
m
) was observed for the
S. cerealella
eggs diet, while differences were not observed between the two types of
T. absoluta
eggs. These results indicate that the mirid could develop and reproduce by feeding exclusively on both types of
T. absoluta
eggs. As conclusion, the use of more environmentally friendly strategies to control this pest, such as the biological control and inherited sterility, is possible through the release of
T. cucurbitaceus
and irradiated
T. absoluta
individuals.