Ideal period for mating females of the predator Podisus fuscescens (Dallas, 1851) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

The improvement of techniques for the mass rearing predators in laboratory, including age mating is important to obtain largest number individuals biological control programs. purpose this study was evaluate females’ fecundity predator Podisus fuscescens (Dallas, 1851) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) with different pre-mating periods. females were mated immediately after emergence (T1) or one (T2), two (T3), three (T4), four (T5) five (T6) days emergence. and day emergency (T1 T2) had fewer egg clusters than those (T6). nymphs per female lower (T2) (T3). total eggs proportion hatched treatments T1 T2 T6. oviposition longevity P. similar between treatments; however, pre-oviposition period longer T5 pos-oviposition T1. require mature their reproductive system, which improves fitness avoids unnecessary mating.