[Objectives]  To determine the suitability of the eggs of Cadre cautella and Ephestia kuehniella as alternative prey for Orius nagaii, in order to facilitate the captive rearing of this species for biological control purposes. [Methods]  O. nagaii were fed either C. cautella eggs or E. kuehniella eggs and biological indices of the treatment groups raised on these different diets were compared using life-tables. [Results]  O. nagaii fed C. cautella eggs had significantly shorter nymph developmental duration and female longevity than those that were fed E. kuehniella eggs (nymph developmental duration 21.05 d vs 23.26 d and female longevity 32.00 d vs 38.00 d). There was, however, no significant difference in hatching rate, male longevity, fecundity, hatching rate or sex ratio between the two diet treatment groups. The net reproductive rates of O. nagaii that fed on C. cautella or E. kuehniella eggs were 54.872 0 and 57.851 3, respectively, mean generation times were 38.873 6 d and 38.175 8 d, respectively, intrinsic growth rates were 0.107 9 and 0.106 3, respectively, and finite rate of increase were 1.102 5 and 1.112 2, respectively. There were no significant differences in these parameters. [Conclusion]  Both C. cautella and E. kuehniella eggs are suitable alternative foods for rearing O. nagaii in captivity.