Abstract:
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of host plants on
the predatory bug, O. laevigatus. Tobacco whitefly, B. tabaci was
offered on tomato and eggplant leaf discs as a food source for the predator
in the laboratory at a temperature of 25±1ºC, 75±5% R.H, and 16 L: 8 D
photoperiod regime. Results showed that adults of O. laevigatus were
able to feed on both eggs and larval instars of B. tabaci maintained either
on tomato or eggplant. O. laevigatus preferred significantly (P < 0.05)
feeding on B. tabaci eggs more than on larvae. Thus, the average daily
consumption of adult O. laevigatus was 30.44 eggs and 3.2 larvae of B.
tabaci infesting tomato but that on eggplant was 27.6 eggs and 2.45
larvae. In addition, the fertility of O. laevigatus females was significantly
greater when the predator fed on B. tabaci reared on tomato than that on
eggplant. Thus, the average total nymphs produced by each O.
laevigatus female fed on B. tabaci infestation was 64.5 when offered on
tomato leaf discs, and 34.8 when offered on leaf discs eggplant.
Therefore, further laboratory and field studies were suggested to be
carried out on practical use of O. laevigatus as a biocontrol agent against
B. tabaci as a pest.
