Conditions for Short-Term Storage of Field-Collected Spined Soldier Bug, Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), Adults Prior to Augmentative Release¹

The date at which spined soldier bugs, Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), can be trapped for augmentative release against overwintered Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), may be up to 5 wks earlier than the date of peak Colorado potato beetle emergence, necessitating storage of field-collected spined soldier bugs prior to release. The effects of temperature, photoperiod, and food on spined soldier bug survivorship and fecundity during and after a 5-wk storage period were investigated. In general, unfed spined soldier bugs had greater mortality and reduced fecundity compared with those fed string beans and mealworm larvae during storage. Temperature and photoperiod generally had no effect. However, female spined soldier bug survivorship was greater among unfed insects stored at 5°C compared with those stored at 15°C. Therefore, household refrigerators can be used for short-term storage of field-collected spined soldier bugs. Even when stored spined soldier bug females are fed, fecundity is low (14 nymphs per female originally collected). This may limit the use of field-collected spined soldier bugs for augmentative release against Colorado potato beetle to relatively small plantings of potatoes.