Effects of Prey and Pollen Diets on the Reproduction and Longevity of Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), a Key Thrips Predator

<i>Orius insidiosus</i> (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) is an important biological control agent for various soft-bodied arthropod pests. The effective mass rearing and reliable field performance of any biocontrol agent can depend on the quality of its diet. While a combination of insect prey and pollen has been tested previously, little information exists on how different prey and pollen types support survival and reproduction when provided alone. The current study evaluated adult longevity, reproductive span, and total and daily fecundity per female across five different diets. The first instar nymphs of <i>O. insidiosus</i> were reared on <i>Ephestia kuehniella</i> Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs + honey, pest thrips <i>Scirtothrips dorsalis</i> Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) + honey, <i>Typha latifolia</i> L. (Poales: Typhaceae) pollen <i>+</i> honey, multifloral bee pollen + honey, and honey alone in laboratory conditions. The adults reared on <i>E. kuehniella</i> eggs + honey had the highest longevity, daily and total fecundity, and reproductive span, followed by those fed on <i>S. dorsalis</i> + honey. Two pollen diets supported reproduction and survival but were significantly less effective than insect-based diets; honey alone was insufficient to sustain reproduction. These results confirm the superior nutritional quality of <i>E. kuehniella</i> eggs for mass rearing while also showing that <i>O</i>. <i>insidiosus</i> can complete its lifecycle on pollen diets. Incorporating high-quality prey in the rearing system will improve colony productivity, whereas pollen supplements in the field may support predator persistence during periods of low pest density. This study contributes to optimizing both laboratory production and augmentation biological control programs using <i>O. insidiosus</i>.