This work aimed to determine the predatory behavior of nymphs and adults of Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) and its reproduction preying upon Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) under open sided greenhouse (30±5ºC, 61±23% RH and natural photophase) and laboratory (28±1°C, 53±5% RH and 14 hours of photophase) conditions. Second to later instars and adults of P. nigrispinus were caged on processing tomato var. IPA5 leaves infested with ten T. absoluta third or fourth instars. P. nigrispinus from second to fifth instar preyed on 9.1, 11.1, 8.7 and 12.9 caterpillars in the laboratory and 6.2, 6.6, 8.6 and 15.5 caterpillars in the open sided greenhouse. Thus, P. nigrispinus fed on similar number of T. absoluta caterpillars under laboratory (43.1±2.19) and open sided greenhouse (38.2±1.78) conditions, preying on 2.5 and 2.3 caterpillars per day, respectively, in these environments. Average P. nigrispinus female predation was 50.8±6.1 and 50.3±10.6 caterpillars in laboratory and open sided greenhouse, respectively. Food conversion per P. nigrispinus female was similar between environments with production of 0.31 eggs per consumed caterpillar in open sided greenhouse, and 0.41 eggs in laboratory.
Lycopersicum esculentum; nymphs; predators; biological control; protected cultivation
