Effect of cold storage on development and demographic parameters of Scolothrips longicornis fed on two-spotted spider...

Cold storage effects on the female predatory thrips Scolothrips longicornis Priesner (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) fed on Tetranychus urticae Koch eggs for different time periods (5, 10, 20 and, 30 days) at 5 or 25 °C (control) on development and life table parameters were examined. Female adult duration and female total longevity were not influenced by the period of cold storage. The minimum mean female total longevity (28.1 ± 0.32 day) was observed in the 30-day treatment. The oviposition period decreased with increasing cold storage duration. All life table parameters of S. longicornis demonstrated a significant difference across treatments. Our results demonstrated that the female adult of S. longicornis could be maintained at 5 °C for 5-days with minimal reduction in the life-history process. This would be beneficial in the storage and mass production of S. longicornis in biocontrol programs involving T. urticae.