Enhancing Biological Control Efficacy: Insights into the Feeding Behavior and Fitness of the Omnivorous Pest Lygus lineolaris

Abstract

Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) (Hemiptera: Miridae), a true omnivorous insect, poses a significant threat to agriculture in the Neartic region. Understanding the feeding behavior of L. lineolaris is crucial for developing integrated pest management strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different diets on the fitness of L. lineolaris, with a focus on the diet source, feeding regime (phytophagy, zoophagy, and phytozoophagy), and number of diet items. The experimental design in the laboratory investigated the impacts of strawberry, canola and buckwheat flowers, as well as spider mites and aphids to explore relationships found in a conventional strawberry field. Results reveal that diet source, feeding regime, and the number of diet items influence L. lineolaris performance (i.e., survivorship rate, developmental time, and adult weight and length). Improvements in fitness are indicated by higher nymphal survival, shorter developmental time, and larger adults. Immature stages of L. lineolaris show improved fitness when provided with diets rich in canola compared to strawberry flowers and spider mites. Furthermore, the inclusion of multiple diet items in phytozoophagous regimes enhances insect performance. The findings emphasize the significance of understanding L. lineolaris’ nutritional requirements and the biodiversity of target ecosystems for modeling energy flows and designing effective IPM strategies against this pest. This research contributes to the knowledge base for biological control programs targeting L. lineolaris in agricultural systems.