The amount of food consumed by nymphs of Supputius cincticeps (Stäl) and the relationship between food intake and growth and development rates using larvae of cotton leafworm Alabama argillacea (Huebner) as food was evaluated. The regression analysis indicated a quadratic function between daily growth of 2nd-instar nymphs of S. cincticeps and food consumption, but for the 3rd - 5th instars this function was linear. Nymphs fed with small preys (4.71 mg) had their growth reduced (75.3%). The rate of development showed a linear relationship with the daily food consumption for each instar of the predator. For the 4th and 5th instars, the period of development increased (418.4 e 196.7%, respectively) when small preys were supplied to the predator. The amount of food consumed in function of its availability, influenced the rates of growth and development, and the nymphal survival of S. cincticeps.
Insecta; stinkbug; predator; behavior; nutrition; Alabama argillacea
