Temperature-driven selection of predatory mirid bugs for im-proving aphid control in sweet pepper crops

<strong>Figure 1. </strong>Number (mean ± SE) of fourth instar nymphs of <em>M. persicae nicotianae</em> consumed by females of <em>N. tenuis</em>, <em>M. pygmaeus</em> and <em>D. bolivari </em>on sweet pepper leaf discs at 18, 24 and 30 ºC ± 1º C and 14:10 h L:D. Bars topped by different letters represent means that are significantly different among species (ANOVA P &lt; 0.05). <strong>Table 1.</strong> Mean (± SE) duration of nymph stages (days) of <em>N. tenuis</em>, <em>M. pygmaeus</em> and <em>D. bolivari</em> preying on <em>M. persicae</em> <em>nicotianae</em> on sweet pepper leaf discs at 18, 24 and 30 ºC ± 1º C and 14:10 h L:D. Means within a row followed by the same letter are not significantly different (Tukey test; P &gt; 0.05). <strong>Figure 2. </strong>Instar-specific survival (%) of the immature stages of <em>N. tenuis</em>, <em>M. pygmaeus</em> and <em>D. bolivari</em> when preying on <em>M. persicae</em> <em>nicotianae</em> on sweet pepper leaf discs at 18, 24 and 30 ºC ± 1º C and 14:10 h L:D. <strong>Table 2.</strong> Mean (± SE) life time fertility (total offspring produced/female), female longevity (days) and progeny sex ratio (percentage of females/total offspring) of <em>N. tenuis</em>, <em>M. pygmaeus</em> and <em>D. bolivari</em> preying on <em>M. persicae</em> <em>nicotianae</em> on sweet pepper leaf discs at 18, 24 and 30 ºC ± 1º C and 14:10 h L:D. <strong>Figure 3. </strong>Age-specific fertility (number of N₁ produced/female/day ± SE) of <em>N. tenuis</em>, <em>M. pygmaeus</em> and <em>D. bolivari</em> preying on <em>M. persicae</em> <em>nicotianae</em> on sweet pepper leaf discs at 18 (A), 24 (B) and 30 ºC ± 1º C (C) and 14:10 h L:D.