Biología de Tupiocoris cucurbitaceus (Hemíptera: Miridae) sobre pimiento con y sin disponibilidad de presa

Whiteflies, particularly Bemisia tabaci, are among the main phytosanitary constraints affecting sweet pepper crops under protected cultivation. This has promoted the search for and evaluation of natural enemies that can be incorporated into sustainable pest management strategies. In this context, predatory mirids represent a promising alternative due to their ability to prey on different pest stages while persisting on the crop. This study evaluated the biology of Tupiocoris cucurbitaceus (Hemiptera: Miridae) on sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) under three dietary conditions: (I) sweet pepper leaf without prey, (II) sweet pepper leaf with B. tabaci nymphs, and (III) sweet pepper leaf supplemented with Ephestia kuehniella eggs as an animal-derived food source. First-instar nymphs (N1) were individually maintained under controlled conditions, and nymphal development time, survival, sex ratio of the offspring, and adult longevity were recorded. Tupiocoris cucurbitaceus was able to oviposit and complete its life cycle on sweet pepper; however, its performance was strongly influenced by diet. In the absence of prey, development time increased and survival was markedly reduced. In contrast, prey availability or supplementation with animal-derived food allowed faster development and improved biological performance. Overall, these results support the potential of T. cucurbitaceus as a biological control agent of B. tabaci in protected sweet pepper crops, highlighting the importance of prey availability and/or dietary supplementation to optimize its establishment and efficacy.