Orius sp.

Anthocorid bugs, particularly many species of the genus Orius (Hemiptera, Anthocoridae) are important beneficial insects for various agrosystems feeding primarily upon thrips, aphids, leafhoppers, psyllids, spider mites, eggs and young larvae of several crop pests.

Cardiastethus pygmaeus Poppins is a key predator of coconut leaf caterpillars Opisina arenosella Walker and Xylocoris (Arrostelus flavipes (Reuter) is associated with pests of stored grains / commodities. The identity of Orius species recorded in cotton ecosystem is yet to be confirmed.

Orius spp. are reared in a specially designed cage which is made by converting a plastic playing card box into a breeding cage. Windows are cut on the top and bottom and replaced by plastic net to ensure proper aeration. On one lateral side a small window is cut which is replaced by a removable feeding pad. On the opposite side a similar window is cut and replaced by removable polystyrene wool. Once the cages are ready, twenty pairs of Orius spp. are introduced by removing one of the lateral openings. The food is provided (one part of water mixed with two parts of the condensed milk) on the lateral pad. The eggs are laid on the polystyrenes pad which is replaced daily with a fresh pad. The food also is replaced daily and once in a week the entire assembly is changed and replaced by a fresh sterilized unit. A number of such units are set for rearing the required numbers of bugs. The cages are further stacked in a cage where a temperature of 25-26°C and relative humidity of 70-80% is maintained. In most species the eggs hatch in 4-7 days and there are 5-6 nymphal instars, the duration for each instar being passed in 3-6 days. The adult males live for 4-45 and female for 6-61 days. Each female is capable of producing about 150 eggs.

The predatory bugs could also be reared on Corcyra eggs.