No apparent life-history trade-offs following selection for increased fecundity in Orius albidipennis (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae)

We reared the predatory bug Orius albidipennis Reuter (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) on a diet of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller eggs and bee pollen and subjected separate lines to selection for either increased or decreased fecundity. After 18 generations, we obtained a line with 76% greater egg production compared to unselected controls, with fecundity exhibiting an estimated heritability of 0.10 ± 0.005. The line selected for low fecundity experienced rapid population decline followed by extinction after 6 generations. Compared to controls, the high-fecundity line showed no reduction in longevity or functional response to female Tetranychus urticae as prey, suggesting no inherent tradeoffs in either lifespan or foraging efficiency, which might affect biocontrol efficacy, although this may not hold true in nature where energy demands will be greater than in a laboratory setting. The high-fecundity trait remained stable for 9 generations following relaxation of selection. Although genetic admixture with wild populations, along with unknown selective forces, are likely to eventually dilute trait expression in the field, the high reproductive rate obtained via artificial selection could serve to reduce production costs substantially and improve levels of pest control for several generations post-release in augmentation applications.