SD06: Generalist predators that feed on the cotton seed bug (Oxycarenus Hyalinipennis)

The cotton seed bug (Oxycarenus hyalinipennis) is a polyphagous insect that damages cotton. While this pest is distributed worldwide, the organisms that may parasitize or feed on O. hyalinipennis are not well studied. Here, I performed bioassays to determine if generalist predators will feed on O. hyalinipennis. Seed pods collected from cow-itch trees (Lagunaria patersonia) revealed six generalist predators that may potentially feed on O. hyalinipennis: yellow sac spiders (Cheiracanthiidae), jumping spiders (Salticidae), ground sac spiders (Trachelidae), leaf hopper assassin bugs (Zelus renardii), pirate bugs (Buchananiella continua), and lacewing larva (Chrysopidae). Two of the predators, chrysopids and salticids, fed on every stage of O. hyalinipennis, including the egg, 5 nymphal, and adult stages. The other four predators had a maximum size threshold for O. hyalinipennis that they could feed on, such as the cheiracanthiids and pirate bugs, which fed on the egg stage up to the fifth and first instars, respectively. Also, these generalist predators provided little to no natural control because O. hyalinipennis populations fluctuated independently of predator populations. That is, predator populations did not increase following increases in O. hyalinipennis populations. Further research could look into other generalist predators and analyze their propensity to feed on O. hyalinipennis.