Effects of temperature on development, survival, longevity, and fecundity of Serangium japonicum (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a predator of Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the effect of temperature on the development and reproductive biology of Serangium japonicum (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) at seven constant temperature regimes (17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32 and 35°C) for its effect as a predator of Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Results indicated that the duration of the egg, larval and pupal stages were significantly affected by temperature. The developmental time gradually declined with the increase of temperature from 17 to 29°C, however an extension in the developmental periods was observed in the temperature range of 32 to 35°C. The survival rates of different insect stages were stable at temperatures between 20 and 32°C; however at extreme temperatures of 35°C, a sharp decrease was evident. The highest fecundity of the female (387.2 eggs per female) was recorded at 20°C. Based on these results, life tables of S. japonicum were constructed for temperatures in the range 20–35°C. The maximum reproductive rate (R 0=279.9) occurred at 26°C. The maximum values for innate capacity for increase (r m=0.1131) and the finite rate of increase (λ=1.1197) occurred at 29°C. The mean generation time (T) decreased with increased temperature, the longest of which was 76.0 days (at 20°C) and the shortest was 36.6 days (at 32°C). These results offer valuable insight on the importation and establishment of S. japonicum into new environments with diverse temperature regimes.