Effects of Starvation on Longevity,Fecundity and Predation Capacity of Orius sauteri

ZHAO Jun; WU Yanhui; TIAN Xiaoyuan; HE Lei; LI Jue; BAI Jingke; LI Shujun; LI Chengjun

doi:10.15933/j.cnki.1004-3268.2025.11.011

Abstract：In order to clarify the starvation tolerance of Orius sauteri and its fecundity and predation capacity under different extents of starvation,this study simulated a starvation stress environment indoors.The survival rate and lifespan of O.sauteri at different developmental stages were measured under long-term starvation conditions,and the effects on longevity,egg number,egg hatch rate,predation amount,predation function response and searching efficiency of female adults under various levels of starvation were analyzed.The results showed that female adults of O.sauteri possessed the highest starvation tolerance,with an average lifespan of 14.15 days,significantly longer than that of male adults and nymphs.There was a significant difference in the fecundity of female adults of O.sauteri under varying durations of starvation.Both the oviposition rate and egg number of females starved for 72 hours declined significantly(78.33%and 82.47 eggs,respectively)in relative to the control(females adults without starvation treatment,96.67%and 110.20 eggs,respectively).Under the control and three starvation treatments,predation of female adults of O.sauteri on Heliothis assulta eggs still conformed to Holling Ⅱ functional response models,though with modifications to their parameters.The predation efficiency(38.384 1 and 32.026 9,respectively)and the lowest value of search effect(0.707 0 and 0.680 5,respectively)of female adults starved for 24 and 48 hours were both significantly higher than those of the control(28.372 0 and 0.643 8).However,the predation efficiency(19.070 9)and minimum search effect(0.592 5)of females starved for 72 hours were lower than those of the control.Our results indicated that O.sauteri females should be prioritized as the optimal biological agent for field applications.However,starvation duration exceeding 72 hours significantly reduced the reproductive and predatory capacities of female adults,negatively impacting their field colonization and pest control efficacy.