A Laboratory Rearing Method for the Cacao Mirid Helopeltis Clavifer Walker (Hemiptera:Miridae).

Abstract

A method is described for continuous rearing and handling of large numbers of adults and nymphs of Helopeltis clavifer Walk. Adults are caged with small cacao pods held in vials of water. Feeding and oviposition occur in the pods. Newly emerged nymphs are transferred to similar freshly prepared pods, which are changed daily there- after. Under these conditions, the egg and nymphal stages last seven to eight days and 11 to 12 days respectively, which are very similar to their durations as recorded in the field.