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. 2022 Oct 30;13(11):996.
doi: 10.3390/insects13110996.

Inheritance and Biological Characterization of an Orange-nymph Mutant in Orius laevigatus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae)

Amador Rodríguez-Gómez  1 , Alberto Donate  1 , Isabel Sánchez-Martínez  1 , Virginia Balanza  1 , Ana Belén Abelaira  1 , María Del Carmen Reche  1 , Pablo Bielza  1
Affiliations

Inheritance and Biological Characterization of an Orange-nymph Mutant in Orius laevigatus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae)

Amador Rodríguez-Gómez et al. Insects. .

Abstract

A mutation showing a distinct orange color in the nymph stages was found in Orius laevigatus (Fieber) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), a key biological control agent in protected crops, used to control small pests, especially thrips. A laboratory strain carrying this body color mutation ambar was established. Genetic analysis determined that the mutation (ambar) was controlled by a single autosomal recessive allele. Some biological and ecological characteristics of this orange strain were compared to a normal population. Longevity, fecundity and fertility were similar in both populations, but immature survival, development rate, body size, starvation tolerance and predation capacity were inferior in the orange strain. The utility of the orange mutant as a visible marker for biological and ecological studies of this important biological control agent is discussed.

Keywords: Orius laevigatus; biological control agent; body color; mutation; recessive allele.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
First to fifth instar nymphs of the normal (A) and mutant orange (B) populations of Orius laevigatus.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Recently emerged normal (A) and orange mutant (B) male and female adults of Orius laevigatus.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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