Abstract
Lima and snap bean varieties that are currently being used to culture the Mexican bean beetle (MBB)and its parasite, Pediobius foveolatus (Crawford), were examined to identify the most efficient variety for the culture of MBB. ‘Top Crop,’ ‘Provider,’ ‘Spartan Arrow,’ and ‘Burpee's Stringless’ snap beans and ‘Henderson’ lima beans were compared by constructing life tables for MBB on each variety. Varietal growth rates and responses to MBB culture conditions were also compared. Mean durations of immature MBB development were significantly different between all varieties, being shortest on ‘Spartan Arrow’ at 19.9 days. The preoviposition period was shortest and oviposition period longest on ‘Provider,’ being 8.9 and 27.2 days, respectively. Larval and pupal survivorships were higher on ‘Henderson’ (61.7%) and ‘Provider’ (60.4%) than on the other varieties. MBB females produced significantly more egg masses (16.5) and eggs (839.7) on ‘Provider’ than on any other variety. The highest net reproductive rate occurred on ‘Provider’ (222.5 female progeny per female), but the shorter generation times were on ‘Spartan Arrow’ (48.0 days) and ‘Henderson’ (48.1 days). As a result of these differences, MBB on ‘Provider’ and ‘Henderson’ exhibited higher intrinsic rates of increase (0.1172 and 0.1112, respectively). These results and observations on growth rates of the varieties and their responses to MBB culture conditions indicated that ‘Henderson’ lima beans was the best variety of those studied for culturing MBB.
Published Version
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