Development, reproduction and longevity of Orius minutus and Orius sauteri (Heteroptera : Anthocoridae) when reared on Ephestia kuehniella eggs

Developmental, reproductive, and adult longevity, rates of Orius minutus (L) and Orius sauteri (Poppius) were studied in the laboratory using eggs of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller as prey. Immature development for both species took approximately 12 days and did not differ significantly between the sexes. Total fecundity rates were significantly higher for O. minutus (105.36) than O. sauteri (68.40) as were male longevity rates (18.11 days vs. 11.50 days) and female longevity rates for both virgin (16.73 days vs. 24.75 days) and ovipositing (13.90 days vs. 19.69 days) individuals. However, O. minutus suffered higher mortality rates in the laboratory, thus calculated intrinsic rates of natural increase were for O. minutus (rm=0.137) and O. sauteri (rm=0.132) were similar.