Effects of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry toxins on developmental and reproductive characteristics of the predator Orius albidipennis (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) under laboratory conditions

The effects of Cry toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) (Bt) on the anthocorid Orius albidipennis Reuter were studied under laboratory conditions. Tritrophic experiments were performed, in which Orius nymphs were fed Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) larvae reared on a diet with Cry1Ac, Cry1Ab, or Cry2Ab toxins at different concentrations (0, 1, and 10 microg/ml), when supplemented with Ephestia kuehniella Zeller eggs. In complementary experiments, the Bt Cry1Ac toxin was directly fed to Orius nymphs at a very high concentration (1 mg/ml). No effects on prey consumption, developmental time, nymph survival, fecundity, and egg hatching of O. albidipennis were found in either experiment. It can be concluded that the toxins tested do not seem to pose a risk for the anthocorid O. albidipennis, especially when it is exposed through the prey.