Morphology, Biology and Predation Capacity of Amphiareus constrictus (Stål) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae)

A minute pirate bug, Amphiareus constrictus (Stål) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), the biology of which has been less studied, was successfully reared in the laboratory for more than 20 generations. Studies were conducted to understand its biology, life table parameters, and predatory potential. Besides the adult, the egg and all five nymphal instars are described with live images, which can serve as additional characters for identification. The biological parameters were studied at different temperatures. Rearing temperatures of 25 and 30°C were found to be suitable for hatching and nymphal survival to adult stage (88.5 and 75%, respectively). Life table parameters like net reproductive rate (R₀), precise intrinsic rate of increase (r_m), finite rate of increase (λ) and hypothetical F₂ females were higher at 25°C. A nymph could consume a total of 32.8 ± 1.8 Corcyra cephalonica Stainton eggs. Male and female adult consumed a total of 179.0 ± 15.6 and 388.5 ± 58.6 C. cephalonica eggs, respectively. The data generated through studies on biology, fertility, and predatory potential led to the standardization of a simple production protocol for A. constrictus utilizing the eggs of the rice moth C. cephalonica. Predatory potential studies on Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) indicated that a nymph could consume 154.8 eggs during nymphal duration. Male and female adults could consume 1280.5 and 1435 eggs, respectively. The mass-reared A. constrictus can be field evaluated against the tomato pinworm TT absoluta and the brown plant hopper Nilaparvata lugens Stål.