The attractant and feeding stimulant effects of extracts of dorsal abdominal glands of Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) and Supputius cincticeps (Stal) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) added to nymphs' diet were evaluated and compared with stimulant and feeding effects on factitious prey. The extract spread over the diet attracted 88% of nymphs of P. nigrispinus. Similar results were achieved for nymphs feeding on diet with extract (spread over and added - 84%), and using the factitious prey Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) (100%). Nymphs of S. cincticeps feeding on the same diet, showed maximum value of 60 and 56% but lower than that achieved on the factitious prey, Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) (92%). Nymphs of P. nigrispinus and S. cincticeps showed similar lower weights when reared on the artificial diet (2.7 and 1.2 mg), respectively, or when reared with extract added to the diet (2.8 and 1.6 mg), extract spread over the diet (2.1 and 1.0 mg), or with extract spread over and added to the diet (2.4 and 1.3 mg) than that on the factitious prey (3.1 and 3.0 mg).
Insecta; predatory bugs; mass rearing
