Abstract
The ladybird beetle Stethorus gilvifrons is a predator of tetranychid mites. The hypothesis that factitious diets had no negative effect on S. gilvifrons development and reproduction was tested. Experimental diets included natural prey Tetranychus turkestani eggs, Ephestia kuehniella eggs plus date palm pollen, E. kuehniella eggs plus maize pollen, and E. kuehniella eggs plus bee pollen. The results indicated that S. gilvifrons development time was longer and fecundity was lower on all factitious diets tested compared to natural prey, T. turkestani eggs. S. gilvifrons fed E. kuehniella eggs plus date palm pollen had a higher net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and lower generation time (T) than those fed other factitious diets. Although T. turkestani eggs are more nutritious than the factitious diets, the combination of E. kuehniella eggs plus date palm pollen holds promise as an alternative food for the mass production of S. gilvifrons.
Published Version
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