Potential influence of supplemental nutrients intake by adults on the development, fecundity, and population growth of Megalurothrips usitatus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) offspring

Abstract Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagnall) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is an important pest in cowpea-growing areas of south China. To study control strategies, M. usitatus has been raised for multiple generations in the laboratory. Considering the impact of supplemental nutrients on colony fitness during laboratory rearing is crucial for achieving a significant population of uniformly developed individuals. Here, an age-stage, 2-sex life table for M. usitatus was developed to examine the impacts of F0M. usitatus adults fed on 3 different supplemental diets (20% sucrose solution, 20% pollen solution, and 20% honey solution) on the development, fecundity, and population growth of F1M. usitatus. The findings indicated that, compared to thrips fed on water, F0 adult thrips provided with 3 supplementary diets exhibited a reduction in the developmental duration for each instar, an increase in fecundity, and an extension of the lifespan of F1M. usitatus, with honey yielding the best results. Similarly, the addition of supplemental nutrients resulted in a reduction in the mean generation time (T) and an enhancement of the net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and finite rate of increase (λ) compared to the control group. The effects were highest for honey, followed by pollen, and then sucrose. This study provides favorable evidence concerning the direct impacts of parental nutrition supplementation on the fitness of offspring in insects, and provides information to aid indoor rearing of M. usitatus.