Characteristic Morphology and Biology of Sycanus aurantiacus Ishikawa et Okajima, sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) on the Larvae of Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Abstract

The study on the Characteristic Morphology and Biology of Sycanus aurantiacus on Tenebrio molitor larvae was conducted in the Integrated Pest Management Laboratory, Program Study of Agroecotechnology, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia. This research aims to identify the development and predation capacity of S. aurantiacus as a predator of T. molitor in the laboratory. Development of S. aurantiacus was monitored by observing the egg incubation period, the development stages and number nymph, and the longevity of the adult. Predation capacity of S. aurantiacus was observed by exposing five different densities of T. molitor larvae to an adult predator.  The density of the prey exposed to the predator was 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 nymphs.  Experiments on the development and predation capacity were conducted with ten replications. This study revealed that the egg incubation period of S. aurantiacus was 12-14 days.  The development time of the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th instars were 13,8 ± 1,39; 9,3 ± 1,77; 10,4 ± 1,58; 11,0 ± 1,76; and 19,1 ± 2,88, respectively. The longevity of S. aurantiacus adults were 82,7 ± 11,7days.  The females laid eggs 8-14 days after copulation.  A female could lay 5-11 egg clusters containing 35-73 eggs each. Predation capacity of S. aurantiacus when fed with T. molitor was 6,6 larvae per day.

Keywords: Sycanus aurantiacus, Reduviidae, predator, Tenebrio molitor