The development and reproduction of Geocoris floridanus Blatchley (Heteroptera: Geocoridae) was studied using corn earworm eggs (CEW) and beet armyworm (BAW) neonate larvae as prey at 27oC and photoperiod 14:10h (L:D). Nymphal development times of predators fed CEW eggs were similar for females (19.5±1.04d) and males (21.0±1.7d) as was the number of prey consumed (females, 103.9±9.11 eggs; and males, 100.9±8.81 eggs). Nymphs of G. floridanus fed BAW neonate larvae delayed their development compared those fed CEW eggs (females, 23.7±1.34d; and males, 25±2.78d); however, they consumed more larvae (females, 127.8±12.11 larvae; and males, 129.4±9.8 larvae) than eggs. Survival of nymphs was 80.3% and 81.8% when fed CEW and BAW, respectively, and sex ration (%females) was 0.45 and 0.5, respectively.
Species 1: Heteroptera Geocoridae Geocoris floridanus (Bigeyed bug, Geocoris)
Species 2: Lepidoptera Noctuidae Helicoverpa zea (Corn earworm)
Species 3: Lepidoptera Noctuidae Spodoptera exigua (Beet armyworm)
Keywords: predation, biology
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