Biocontrol Science and Technology (2004) 14, 665-673
Omkar and R.B. Bind (2004)
Prey quality dependent growth, development and reproduction of a biocontrol agent, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
Biocontrol Science and Technology 14 (7), 665-673
Abstract: Growth, development and reproduction of a ladybird beetle, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius) were investigated in relation to seven aphid species, viz. Aphis craccivora Koch, Aphis gossypii Glover, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch), Myzus persicae (Sulzer), Uroleucon compositae (Theobald), Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach) and Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe on specific hosts. Maximum prey consumption, percent larval survival, developmental rate, weight of different life stages, percent adult emergence, adult longevity and fecundity of C. sexmaculata were recorded on A. craccivora, and minimum on A. nerii. A linear relationship was found between development rate and weight of adult, daily prey consumption and relative growth rate, log weights of adult males and females, and female longevity and total fecundity. On the basis of overall performance of ladybird the order of suitability of prey species was A. craccivora>A. gossypii>R. maidis>M. persicae>U. compositae>L. erysimi>A. nerii.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Omkar
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
