Influence of Humidity and Tribolium Beetle Food Souce on the Life History Characteristics of Predator, Xylocoris Flavipes (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae);

Life history characteristics of the predator, Xylocoris flavipes reared under four regimes of RH (30, 50, 70 and 90%) on two hosts, Tribolium castaneum and T. confusum fed on three artificial diets, were studied. There were significant effects (P<0.001) of relative humidity on the oviposition period, fecundity, hatchability, developmental time, percentage mortality of immature stages and progeny/female of the predator on both the hosts. Most of the cases the optimum level of relative humidity was recorded at 70%.

Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension 15(1): 2012: page 8-13