Demographic parameters and asynchronous ovary development in Eocanthecona furcellata (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) reared on different diets.

Abstract

The stink bug, Eocanthecona furcellata Wolff (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) shows significant promise as a biological control agent against lepidopteran pests in tropical and subtropical areas. However, securing suitable food remains a persistent issue for the mass rearing of this beneficial insect. To understand how different feeding strategies impact reproductive success, we evaluated their effects on critical life table parameters and ovary development using a range of feeding options: natural prey Spodoptera litura Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Spodoptera exigua Hubner, alternative prey Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), and an advanced artificial diet. E. furcellata fed on S. litura had the highest fecundity (326.96 eggs) and net reproduction rate (86.04 offspring). Moreover, those fed T. molitor exhibited the highest survival rate during the nymph stage (61.86%). Among all tested treatments, ovarian tube length reached its peak on the 14th day following the emergence of the adult. The group fed S. litura had the longest average length (4.021 mm), followed by those fed S. exigua (3.986 mm) and T. molitor (3.904 mm). Notably, E. furcellata fed on S. exigua displayed the highest number of fully developed follicles between days 3 and 21 after emergence. This research underscores the efficacy of utilizing natural prey, especially S. litura, and alternative prey, T. molitor, for enhancing the reproductive success and survival of E. furcellata, providing critical insights for optimizing mass-rearing techniques and informing integrated pest management strategies that leverage this beneficial insect for effective biological control across diverse agricultural systems.