Predatory abilities of Amphibolus venator (Klug) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), a predator of stored-product insect pests

The predatory abilities of Amphibolus venator (Klug) on the stored-product insect pest Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val were examined. A. venator adults (5-15 days old) were starved for 3 days and then introduced individually into plastic containers containing different prey densities (3, 5, 10, 15 or 20) of last-instar larvae, pupae or adults of T. confusum. The assay was carried out at 25 degreesC and 30 degreesC for 1 day. The number of T. confusum killed by A. venator during 10 days was also investigated a prey density of 10 individuals. A. venator attacked all stages tested: mature larvae, pupae and adults. A. venator targeted mature larvae preferentially to the other stages. The number of prey killed by A. venator increased at high prey density, and the functional response of A. venator exhibited Holling's Type II response for all the prey stages. Females tended to kill more prey than males. Predation by A. venator was more effective at 30 degreesC than at 25 degreesC.