The efficiency biological control of aphid Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) by big eyed-bugs Geocoris ochropterus (Hemiptera: Geocoridae)

Abstract

The big-eyed bug Geocoris ochropterus is an omnivorous insect predator and has been widely studied and applied in the biological control of pests in many countries around the world. In this study, functional responses were performed to evaluate the biocontrol of aphids of the big-eyed bug Geocoris ochropterus collected in Cu Chi. There were significant differences in the total number of aphids consumed by the big-eyed bug among the treatments during 24h. Bug consumed on average 12.7 ± 2.51; 21.33 ± 1.52; 31.33 ± 2.08; 40 ± 2; 40 ± 1.15 aphids correspond to the densities of 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 aphids, respectively. The research results indicated that the big-eyed bug exhibited a functional response consistent with type II (Holling, 1959). Numeral response results revealed a curvilinear increase in a number of consuming aphids with an increase in 05 bug densities. Research results showed that the big-eyed bug Geocoris ochropterus has potential applications in the biological control of insect pests.