Reproductive Behavior of the Specialist Predator Elatophilus hebraicus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae)

Abstract

The reproductive biology of Elatophilus hebraicus Pericart, the principal predator of Matsucoccus josephi Bodenheimer & Harpaz (Homoptera: Matsucoccidae), was investigated. Oviposition is usually through a stoma. Eggs were laid on both adaxial and abaxial sides along the needle. In the forest usually a few eggs were inserted in a straight line through the adaxial side; additional eggs were observed in needles collected from the north-facing, inner parts of the crown. Females of E. hebraicus were exposed separately to 28 plant species. Adult needles of each of the 17 pine species employed, which consisted of both Haloxylon and Dilpoxylon, served for oviposition and successful neonate hatching. No oviposition took place in juvenile needles of tested pines. Oviposition did not occur in conifer needles other than pine or in needlelike assimilating organs of broad-leaved plants. A possible explanation of the ability of E. hebraicus to recognize pines and reject other plants is discussed. The preoviposition period ranged from 3.8 to 5.1 d. Significant differences were found in length of oviposition periods and life span under different temperature regimes. The highest mean number of eggs per female (202.7) was achieved when development and oviposition occurred at 26°C. At constant 20°C, or 18-28°C outdoors, an average female lived ≈3 mo; oviposition lasted ≈2 mo; and a female's life span was reduced to 5 and 2 wk at constant 26 and 30°C, respectively.