Effect of Different Host Plants on some Biological Aspects of the Two Sugar Beet Flies Pegomyia mixta and Pegomyia hyoscami (Anthomyiidae: Diptera)

Abstract

The highest average number of egg-laying of P. mixta and P. hyoscami were recorded in sugar beet, followed by fodder beet, chard plants and table beet plants. Also, the highest incubation period were recorded in table beet plants. The highest percentage of hatchability in P. mixta was in fodder beet plants. As for P. hyoscami, it was in sugar beet plants. The shortest larval duration, pupal duration and the total immature stages recorded when reared P. mixta on sugar beet plants and presented by 14.1±0.35, 21.9±0.62 and 42.2±0.92 days, respectively. While, when reared P. mixta in table beet recorded the highest larval, pupal and total immature stages and presented by 20.9±0.48, 27.5±0.47 and 55.6±0.45 days, respectively. Also, for P. hyoscami, the shortest larval duration and pupal duration recorded when reared P. hyoscami on sugar beet plants and presented by 11.9±1.61, 17.6±2.46 days but the shortest total immature stages duration recorded when reared P. hyoscami on fodder beet and presented by 36.4±2.95 days, respectively. While, when reared P. hyoscami in table beet recorded the highest larval, pupal and total immature stages and presented by 17.3±2.35, 22.1±3.00 and 47.7±4.16 days, respectively. The longest longevity was recorded with P. mixta females for each host plant and P. hyoscami recorded the shortest adult longevity for each host plant. Sugar beet and fodder beet recorded the longest adult longevity.