EN
Investigations on the effect of food on length of larval development of Macrolophus melanotoma were carried out in the Department of Plant Protection Methods, Poznań University of Life Sciences in 2004–2006. It was found that the length of complete larval development depended on the type of fed food. The shortest period of larval development of the predatory bug was recorded for larvae’ feeding on gerbera leaves and at the same time additionally fed with sterile eggs of moth Anagasta kuehniella (14.5 days) or Sitotroga cerealella (15.5 days). When the predator was feeding on gerbera leaves infested by Trialeurodes vaporariorum or Tetranychus urticae the length of larval development was significantly longer and amounted to about 20 days. When M. melanotoma was feeding strictly on gerbera leaves 100% mortality was recorded.