Life history traits of Nesidiocoris tenuis on Bemisia tabaci and Thrips palmi

To develop an augmentative biological control programme for Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and Thrips palmi Karny (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) using Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae), we studied the life history traits of a Japanese strain of N. tenuis reared on B. tabaci and T. palmi in controlled environments. The lower developmental threshold during the nymphal period was far higher than those estimated for Spanish, Moroccan, and Iranian strains, indicating that the Japanese strain is better adapted to higher temperatures than the other three strains tested. The intrinsic rate of increase r_m was highest at 30 °C and lowest at 20 °C. The r_m value for individuals reared on T. palmi at 25 °C was lower than that for individuals reared on B. tabaci at the same temperature. Implications of these results for the biological control of B. tabaci and T. palmi in greenhouses are discussed.