The life history and predation rate of Lemnia biplagiata (Swartz) fed on Aphis gossypii Glover was studied at 25C in the laboratory. The raw data were analyzed based on the age-stage, two-sex life table to take the variable developmental rate among individuals and both sexes into consideration. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) is 0.1570 d 1 , the Þnite rate of increase () is 1.170 d 1 , the net reproduction rate (R0) is 291.1 offspring per individual, the mean generation time (T) is 36.2 d, and the gross reproduction rate (GRR) is 604.8 offspring. L. biplagiata consumed 430 42 aphids (mean SD) during the larval stage. The mean consumption rate for an adult during the Þrst 25 d (aged 14 Ð38 d from birth) is 1,548 118 aphids. The mean consumption for an older adult (aged 60 Ð119 d from birth) is 1,319 1,259 aphids. When the survival rate is taken into account, the net consumption rate is 3,022 aphids per individual during the total life span. The transformation rate from prey population to predator offspring is 10.4. The relationship among GRR, R0, and the preadult survival rate (la) is proven as R0 la GRR GRR. However, when applying the female age-speciÞc life table to a two-sex population, due to the difÞculty in determining the preadult mortality of the females, the calculated age-speciÞc survival rate and fecundity are possibly incorrect and consequently the relationship among GRR, R0, and la also may be incorrect.

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Life table and predation of Lemnia biplagiata (Coleoptera : Coccinellidae) fed on Aphis gossypii (Homoptera : Aphididae) with a proof on relationship among gross reproduction rate, net reproduction rate, and preadult survivorship

(Annals of the Entomological Society of America,98(4):475-482)Life Table and Predation of Lemnia biplagiata (Coleoptera:Coccinellidae) Fed on Aphis gossypii (Homoptera:Aphididae) with a Proof on Relationship Among Gross Reproduction Rate, Net Reproduction Rate, and Preadult Survivorship

/pdf/coccinellids-in-biological-control-4s310a4c38.pdf

Coccinellids in Biological Control

A predator-prey catalogue of the Indian predaceous Coccinellidae is presented, which features an updated record of the coccinellid fauna along with their prey range, i.e., aphids, scale insects, mealy bugs, phytophagous mites, whiteflies, nymphs of pentatomid bugs, etc. The catalogue provides the prey record of 261 known predaceous coccinellids of India belonging to 57 genera. Prey record of certain predaceous species is not available. The catalogue lends support to the exploitation of the specific coccinellid predator for the biocontrol of its specific prey. It also reveals the occurrence of many coccinellids at a single prey site, showing the potential of many coccinellids against a single prey. Taxonomic relationship of the subfamilies (including tribes) of Coccinellidae with their prey range is also presented.

Predaceous Coccinellids in India: Predator-Prey Catalogue (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

The use of coccinellids in the biological control of aphids is restricted to the release of larvae because adults tend to fly away. Non-flying adults may stay longer in one place and so they and their progeny could give longer term protection to plants. This work is an attempt to produce a non-flying population by the use of a chemical mutagen and selection of adults with wing malformations through their subsequent generations. These adults are characterized by open elytra and extended wings. Some general features of this mutation were disclosed. The mutation is either unexpressed or results in malformed wings. It also seems recessive and lethal when homozygous. The adults with the mutation suffered a high level of mortality and a drastic reduction in reproductive capacity that prevents their mass rearing for biological control. This study revealed a negative relationship between wing malformations and reproductive capacity. Nevertheless, when adults with the mutation were released in greenhouses containing cucumbers infested with the aphid Aphis gossypii, they remained on the plants in higher numbers and laid eggs over a longer period of time than the control adults but their progeny were less numerous.

An artificial non-flying mutation to improve the efficiency of the ladybird Harmonia axyridis in biological control of aphids

Augmentation of indigenous ladybird beetles to control sugarcane woolly aphid, Ceratoyacuna lanigera Zehntner, was experimented in Guangxi during 1982-85. Two species of coccinellid beetles, Svnonycha grandis (Thunberg) and Cpelophora biplagiata (Swartz), were collected from the fields in November, and stored in a room of 18-20℃, 75-85% RH for overwintering. After about five months of storage, the surviving rate of S. grandis and C. biplagiata was 62.96-82.92% and 45.71-100%, respectively. At the temperature of 23-26℃, 75-85% RH, the surviving rate of storing the first generation and the overwintering generation of S. grandis during summer was 69.13% and 53.8%, respectively. After the winter or summer storage, the predators were released into sugarcane fields. A total of 44,660 beetles were released during the four years period. As a result, the aphid infestation rate of sugarcane plants was reduced by 96.6%, and leaf infestation rate reduced by 90%.

H. H. Yang

Papers

Augmentation of coccinellid beetles for controlling sugarcane woolly aphid