Abstract
The purpose of this investigation was to determine the most suitable prey for the development and fecundity of the predatory coccinellid, Chilocorus bipustulatus (L.) on three different diaspidid species: Aspidiotus nerii Bouche, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), and Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni-Tozzetti). Life tables were constructed at constant 25°C and the developmental time, longevity, fecundity, and the sex ratio were determined. Individuals fed with A. nerii displayed the shortest larval and pupal developmental time (26.0 days), lowest immature mortality rate (16.6%), highest net reproduction rate (264.7 females/ female), shortest generation time (72.9 days), and the highest intrinsic rate of increase (0.077 females/female/day). The results showed that under laboratory conditions C. bipustulatus developed best on A. nerii.
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