Description
Orius Beetle- Orius insidiosus is a polyphagous predatory beetle that feeds on all stages of thrips. It can also feed on aphids, mites, and other small arthropods. They feed on pollen as an supplementary food source.
The nymphs and adult stages both feed on pest insects. The adults are very efficient predators that are good fliers which quickly move throughout the crop to find prey. They congregate in areas where the pest density is high. They hold their prey with their front legs and use their stylet to consume the insides of the soft bodied pest, leaving behind the drained exoskeleton. Adults often found in flowers feeding on pollen, while the nymphs are primarily found on leaves. Though they can fly, their mobility is restricted on leaves with long hairs, such as tomato plants.
The optimum temperature for development is between 20-30˚C. They lay oval eggs (0.4 mm long x 0.13 mm wide) that are embedded in the leaf tissue. Egg to adult development time is 18 days at 25˚C; 27 days at 20˚C. The 5 nymphal instars start as colourless shiny nymphs with red eyes, then change to yellow, then brown. The adults (1.5- 3 mm long) are brown to black with white or grey areas on the wings.
Orius insidiosus can enter diapause if daylength is shorter than 12- 14 hours of light per day. It may be necessary to use supplemental lighting to avoid diapause and maintain high levels of reproduction. Orius laevigatus will not diapause and can be used in greenhouse year round. Orius insidiosus will diapause and is typically useful only from March to October under natural light conditions. Overwintering is possible if sheltered areas are provided.
