BioControl (1998) 43, 39-52

D.J. Ponsonby and M.J.W. Copland (1998)
Environmental influences on fecundity, egg viability and egg cannibalism in the scale insect predator, Chilocorus nigritus
BioControl 43 (1), 39-52
Abstract: The effects of temperature on age-specific fecundity, egg viability and egg cannibalism were examined in the coccidophagous coccinellid, Chilocorus nigritus being fed on the cyanophyllum scale, Abgrallaspis cyanophylli. There were no significant differences in lifetime fecundity or oviposition rate at constant temperatures in the range of 20 to 30°C although there was a trend for both parameters to increase with increasing temperatures. Total fecundity ranged from five to 1890 eggs per female whilst the oviposition rate varied from 0.2-12.1 eggs day^-1. Egg viability was significantly greater at 26 and 30°C (63 and 74%, respectively) than at lower temperatures (18 to 30%) whilst egg cannibalism was highest at 24 and 26°C (being the mid range of the temperatures tested). Mean pre-oviposition periods varied from 54 days at 20°C to 8.2 days at 30°C. The effect of relative humidities in the range of 33% to 75% on oviposition rate, egg viability and egg cannibalism was measured and found to have no significant effect on either parameter.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): D.J. Ponsonby, Michael J.W. Copland

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation
population dynamics/epizootiology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Abgrallaspis cyanophylli
Chilocorus nigritus (predator)	Abgrallaspis cyanophylli