LYGUS HESPERUS FIELD LIFE TABLE STUDIES IN COTTON AND ALFALFA (HETEROPTERA: MHUDAE)

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Abstract
Lygus bugs (Lygus hesperus Knight) were reared in the field on cotton and alfalfa to estimate their longevity, fecundity, and survivorship. In some tests, individuals were switched from one host plant to the other at the beginning of the adult stage.Net reproductive rates (Ro) and innate capacities for increase (rm) were calculated for each of the three test populations and used as indices of host suitability. Females reared on alfalfa had greater Ro and rm values than those on cotton, while those switched from alfalfa to cotton at the adult molt had the lowest Ro value and an intermediate value of Rm.