Nutritional ecology of a predatory stink bug: A comparative analysis of nutrient acquisition from two prey species and an artificial diet

• E. furcellata life history was compared when fed S. frugiperda , T. molitor , or an artificial diet. • Nymphal development was faster, and survival rate higher, on insect prey compared to artificial diet. • Female fecundity was highest on S. frugiperda , followed by T. molitor , and lowest on artificial diet. • Dietary suitability corresponded to rates of protein uptake, and was negatively associated with water content. The nutritional content of prey plays a pivotal role in shaping the predatory behavior and effectiveness of natural pest control agents like Eocanthecona furcellata . We assessed the biological performance and life history of E. furcellata on three diets, larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda , larvae of Tenebrio molitor , and an artificial diet. We also analyzed their nutritional content and quantified consumption and nutritional intake by E. furcellata . The three diets differed substantially in water, protein, and fat content. The moisture content of T. molitor larvae was significantly lower (35.0 ± 0.3 %) than that of S. frugiperda larvae (61.0 ± 0.6 %) or the artificial diet (88.7 ± 0.1 %). Female E. furcellata obtained 8.3 mg of protein per day feeding on S. frugiperda , significantly more than on T. molitor (2.4 mg) or the artificial diet (0.4 mg). 15-day fecundity ranged from 140.2 (±9.3) eggs on S. frugiperda , to 103.3 (±4.8) eggs on T. molitor , and 75.1 (±7.1) eggs on the diet. Our study provides insights into the nutritional ecology of E. furcellata and ways to improve the breeding of this beneficial species for augmentation in agricultural applications.