Life history of Teretriosoma nigrescens Lewis (Coleoptera: Histeridae) and its ability to suppress populations of Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)

The life history and behaviour of Teretriosoma nigrescens Lewis are typical of a histerid predator, but only 2, instead of the expected 3, larval instars were recorded. At 27°C, 70% r.h. development from oviposition to adult emergence took about 8 weeks. In 24 h at 27°C, 70% r.h., T. nigrescens adults and larvae, respectively, consumed on average up to 1.7 and 3.5 Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) larvae. After 7 weeks, 10 T. nigrescens adults prevented populations of 25, 50, 75 and 100 P. truncatus from increasing, while controls increased at least 10-fold. Grain moisture contents of between 8.5–14% had little effect on predatory efficiency.