Abstract
The Zigzag ladybird beetle, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is a biological control agent that feeds on a variety of aphid species. Life table and predation data of C. sexmaculata were collected under laboratory conditions at 25±2⁰C, 60±5% RH and L14: D10 h in connection with feeding on four different aphid species; Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach), Myzus persicae (Sulzer), Aphis nerii (Boyer de Fonscolombe) and Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko). Larval development of C. sexmaculata was long when fed on M. persicae (12.18 days) and shorter on D. noxia (10.64 days). The male’s lifespan was longer on M. persicae (26.70 days) and shorter on L. erysimi (23.67 days). Fecundity was maximum when the beetle was fed D. noxia (316.8 eggs/female) and minimum on M. persicae (199.1 eggs/female). Net reproductive rate, intrinsic rate of increase and finite rate of increase were highest on D. noxia with values of 158.4 (offspring individual-1), 0.22 d-1, and 1.24 d-1, respectively whereas the respective parameters were lowest on L. erysimi (99.5 offspring individual-1, 0.19 d-1, and 1.20 d-1, respectively). However, the mean of the generation (T) was shorter on A. nerii (22.48 d-1) and longer on M. persicae (24.68 d-1). Based on life table parameters obtained under laboratory conditions, the most appropriate host of C. sexmaculata was D. noxia. This study should help us to improve mass rearing and use of C. sexmaculata in the biological control of aphids on field and horticultural crops.
Highlights
Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are important insect pests of various cultivated plants [1]
The first instar completed its development in 1.00 days on D. noxia, which was significantly faster (F = 2.17; F3,76, and P
The consumption rate of C. sexmaculata shows its potential as a biological control agent against aphids, especially on A. nerii and L. erysismi, aphid species known to contain toxic plant metabolites obtained from their host plants (43).The findings of the current study revealed that the R0, λ, r, T and gross reproductive rate (GRR) parameters are higher on M. persicae than L. erysimi in agreement with a study similar to study conducted on C. septempunctata [22, 34, 35] which concludes that M. persicae is most suitable host as compared to L. erysimi
Summary
Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are important insect pests of various cultivated plants [1]. They suck the cell sap of plants, weaken the latter and act as vectors of various virus-induced diseases [2]. Aphids can rapidly build up their population and their honeydew secretions result in sooty mold on the plants. They can change their host’s metabolism by disturbing their host’s hormonal balance. Aphid attacks may lead to a plant’s early death or will reduce the yield of crops at later stage [3]. Kaltenbach (oleander aphid), Myzus persicae, Sulzer (green peach aphid), Diuraphis noxia, Kurdjumov (Russian wheat aphid), and Lipaphis
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