Abstract:

To screen for high-efficiency alternative prey suitable for the mass rearing of Orius sauteri（Poppius），and provide a theoretical basis and technical support for its industrial production and field popularization and application，this study under laboratory constant temperature conditions，using a combination of individual rearing and group paired rearing，systematically evaluated the effects of eggs from five Noctuidae species ［namely Mythimna separata（Walker），Mythimna loreyi（Duponchel），Agrotis segetum（Denis Schiffermüller），Mamestra brassicae（Linnaeus），and Xestia c-nigrum（Linnaeus）］ on the nymphal development duration，survival rate，adult acquisition rate，sex ratio，as well as adult fecundity and longevity of O. sauteri. The results showed that O. sauteri feeding on eggs of M. separata，M. loreyi and M. brassicae could successfully complete the generation development. The total nymphal development durations of the three treatments were 12.72，13.08 and 13.19 d，respectively，with no significant difference among them. The adult acquisition rates reached 88.33%，86.67% and 88.33%，respectively，which were significantly （p0.05） higher than those in the treatments with A. segetum eggs（11.67%）and X. c-nigrum eggs（10.00%）. In terms of fecundity，O. sauteri fed on M. separata eggs had the the shortest pre-oviposition period（2.98 d）and the highest oviposition amount per female（98.25 eggs），and the longest female adult longevity（27.76 d）. Very few nymphs of O. sauteri feeding on A. segetum and X. c-nigrum eggs could complete emergence，which failed to meet the requirements for their normal growth and development.In conclusion，eggs of M. separata，M. loreyi and M. brassicae can all be used as suitable prey for large-scale artificial rearing of O. sauteri，among which M. separata eggs present the optimal rearing effect. M. loreyi and M. brassicae eggs have raw material advantages for large-scale breeding，and can be used as alternative prey for the industrial production of O. sauteri.

Key words: Orius sauteri, alternative prey, growth and development, fecundity, mass rearing