D3294: Reproductive behavior and adult survival of the global pest, cotton seed bug Oxycarenus hyalinipennis

The Cotton seed bug (CSB), Oxycarenus hyalinipennis, is a significant pest that affects cotton and other malvaceous crops globally. Although the CSB originated from Africa, it has now spread to various regions across the world, such as Europe, the Middle East, Asia, South America, and the Caribbean. The presence of CSB infestations can lead to a range of issues, including decreased oilseed production, reduced seed germination, and weight loss in cotton seed. However, developing targeted control strategies is difficult as little is known about the CSB's basic reproductive biology.

To address this issue, we conducted a study on the CSB's basic life history, including mating behavior, adult survival, and the development of eggs to adults. Our findings showed that adult males and females began mating as early as three days after emerging (75%), and the frequency of mating increased to 100% by day five. Females started ovipositing on cotton seeds as early as two days post-mating including some unfertilized eggs, and the first instars began emerging from day seven post-oviposition. We monitored newly emerged first instar nymphs under laboratory conditions at 28 ^oC until they reached adulthood, which took approximately 28-30 days. Mating positively influenced the survivorship and lifespan of adult CSB, with mated males and females living for a median of 28 and 25 days, respectively, compared to unmated males and females who lived for a median of 9.5 days. Overall, our study provides essential information on CSB's basic life history that is necessary for developing new IPM strategies.