Predatory Capacity and Reproduction of Cyrtorhinus lividipennis (Hemiptera: Miridae) Adults Exposed to Low-Temperature Storage and Fitness of the F1 Generation

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter (Hemiptera: Miridae) is an important predator of planthoppers and leafhoppers in rice fields. Augmentative biological control has been practiced successfully in many agroecosystems. However, one of the primary obstacles to augmentative biological control is obtaining natural enemies in sufficient numbers and quality when required for release. The development of the low-temperature storage (LTS) technique has been pivotal in ensuring the flexibility and efficiency of the mass production of biological control agents. Here, we measured the effects of LTS on the predatory capacity and reproduction of C. lividipennis adults and the fitness of the F1 generation. The results are expected to improve the successful utilization of the predator in an IPM program. ABSTRACT: Low-temperature storage (LTS) is a way to adjust natural enemy development to meet field release needs and to protect natural enemies from the odds of long-distance transportation. The mirid bug Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter (Hemiptera: Miridae) is an important predator of planthoppers and leafhoppers in rice fields. In this study, the LTS effects were measured on the predatory capacity and reproduction of the mirid adults (provided with 20% honey solution and stored at 13 °C for 12 days), and the fitness of the F1 generation of these adults. Higher predation of the eggs of the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) was observed in the post-storage females than in the control females. The functional responses of C. lividipennis adults, either exposed to LTS or not, to planthopper eggs fitted well with Holling type II functional responses. Longevity was not affected by LTS, whereas the number of offspring nymphs was 55.6% lower in the post-storage females than in the control females. The fitness of the offspring generation was not affected by the LTS of parental adults. The findings are discussed with their relevance to biological control.