Harmonia sedecimnotata (F.): Predatory potential, biology, life table, molecular characterization, and field evaluation against Aphis gossypii Glover

T Boopathi,I Shakuntala,S K Dutta,Y Ramakrishna,R Aravintharaj,S B Singh,A R Singh,S Chowdhury,V Dayal,K Lalhruaipuii

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-59809-3

Abstract

The ladybird beetle, Harmonia sedecimnotata (F.) was studied in biology, life table, consumption rates, molecular characterization, and field evaluation. The net reproductive rate (R0), based on the age-stage and two-sex life table, was 43.2 eggs/individual. The female adults lived longer (68.1 d) than the male adults (62.9 d). The rate of consumption increased with progress in each stage of development. Compared to the other larval stages of the predator, the fourth stadium consumed most quantities of Aphis gossypii Glover nymphs (Hemiptera: Aphididae) (200.4). Both female (2214.6) and male (1792.4) consumed more prey (nymphs) than larvae. The net rate of consumption was 1458.92 nymphs of melon aphids. There was no variation in the sequences of the two nucleotides out of 583 bp, H sedecimnotata China (EU392410) and India (MG720024). Our investigations demonstrated that inoculative release of 30 or 40 or 50 adults per 100 m2 attained high reduction of aphids (>90%). Thus, it may be recommended the release rate of 40 adults per 100 m2 to suppress the eggplant aphid population. H. sedecimnotata is therefore one of the most promising biological control agents for cotton aphids that can be achieved for instant control through an inoculative release of adults.

Highlights

Many of the sucking insect pests cause severe damage to the crop by injecting toxins through their salivary secretions[1,2,3] and serve as vectors for many plant diseases as well
The purpose of this study is to select aspects of the consumption rate, biology, life table studies of the H. sedecimnotata fed on Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae), field evaluation and its molecular characterization
The age-specific consumption rate, kx and age-specific net consumption rate, qx were formulated by considering sex and stage differentiation (Fig. 1)

Summary

Introduction

Many of the sucking insect pests cause severe damage to the crop by injecting toxins through their salivary secretions[1,2,3] and serve as vectors for many plant diseases as well. In both field and protected conditions, they are economically important insect pests[1,4]. For assessing the host-associated variations for insect species, the COI gene has been effectively employed[3,25] In this investigation, we used the COI gene for molecular characterization of H. sedecimnotata. This study would help to enhance Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies by using this predator as a potential biological control agent for aphid management

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Conclusion