Abstract
The Life table features and the fecundity schedule of the fish louse Argulus bengalensis (Branchiura: Argulidae) were estimated under laboratory conditions using Cirrhinus mrigala as the model host. The cohort-based Life table revealed that survival of A. bengalensis declines as a function of age. Life expectancy was observed to be 34 days for a newly emerged adult. The mean number of eggs produced per egg strip was 86 (±8.89 S.E.). The sex ratio 2:1 was biased towards males. The net reproductive rate (R0) varied between 50 and 487 while the cohort generation time (Tc) ranged between 24 and 26 days. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) was 0.14–0.23, while the finite rate of increase (λ) remained between 1.16 and 1.28. The Life table features and the fecundity schedule of A. bengalensis are comparable with congenerics of temperate regions. Early reproduction (between 21 and 23 days) and an extended postreproductive phase (47 days) of females are characteristic of A. bengalensis and a reflection for survival under uncertain conditions and a parasitic mode of life.
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