Biology and Feeding Potential of an Anthocorid Predator, Orius tantillus (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) on Sitotroga cerealella

Biology and feeding potential of an anthocorid predator. Onus tantillus (Motsch.) were studied under laboratory conditions using UV irradiated eggs of alternate host, Angoumois grain moth Sitotroga cerealella. (O1.). The mean incubation period was five days. Four nymphal instars were recorded and the total nymphal duration was 16.7 days. Longevity of adult male and female was 23.4 and 27 days, respectively. Mean fecundity per female was 33 eggs. Mean nymphal feeding was 43.8 S. cerealella eggs, while adult male and female fed on a total of 94.5 and 122.3 eggs, respectively. Considering the cost of host eggs alone, the cost of producing 100 O. tantillus nymphs was Re. 0.82 and that of 100 adults Rs. 4.67. This study indicates the suitability of S. cerealella eggs for mass rearing O. tantillus. Morphological characters for differentiating the sex of adults and morphometries of all stages have been studied.