Highest Intrinsic Rate Of Increase Research Articles

Life table parameters of Amblyseius largoensis, Amblyseius swirskii and Proprioseiopsis lenis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) fed on eggs and larvae of Frankliniella occidentalis.

The immature development and reproduction of the predatory mites Amblyseius largoensis (Muma), Proprioseiopsis lenis (Corpuz and Rimando), and Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) were investigated using both thrips eggs and first instars of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, as prey in a controlled laboratory environment at 25°C and 60% relative humidity. When provided with thrips eggs as food, A. largoensis exhibited a notably shorter immature development period for both males (7.05 days) and females (6.51 days) as compared with A. swirskii (8.05 and 7.19 days, respectively) and P. lenis (8.10 days and 7.05 days, respectively). Amblyseius largoensis also displayed a higher oviposition rate (2.19 eggs/female/day) than A. swirskii and P. lenis (1.79 and 1.78 eggs/female/day, respectively). Moreover, it exhibited the highest fecundity (25.34 eggs/female), followed by P. lenis (24.23 eggs/female) and A. swirskii (22.86 eggs/female). These variations led to A. largoensis having the highest intrinsic rate of increase (rm) at 0.209, followed by A. swirskii at 0.188, and P. lenis at 0.165. However, when the predatory mites were provided with first instars of F. occidentalis, A. swirskii demonstrated a faster immature development period for both males (7.67 days) and females (7.59 days) as compared with P. lenis (9.00 days and 7.86 days, respectively) and A. largoensis (8.47 days and 8.61 days, respectively). While the oviposition rates of P. lenis (1.92 eggs/female/day) and A. swirskii (1.90 eggs/female/day) were similar when feeding on this prey, A. largoensis produced fewer eggs (1.83 eggs/female/day). Further, A. swirskii exhibited the highest fecundity (31.93 eggs/female), followed by A. largoensis (25.71 eggs/female) and P. lenis (23 eggs/female). Consequently, the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) on thrips first instars was highest in A. swirskii (0.190), followed by A. largoensis (0.186), and P. lenis (0.176). In summary, our findings indicate that in terms of life history parameters A. largoensis performs optimally when feeding on thrips eggs, whereas A. swirskii performs best when preying on the mobile first instars of the thrips. These insights into the dietary preferences and reproductive capabilities of the studied predatory mite species have important implications for their potential use as biological control agents against F. occidentalis in agricultural settings.

The performance and physiological responses of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) to different sorghum cultivars

Utilizing pest-resistant cultivars is a highly effective and environmentally-friendly approach for managing crop infestations by pests. In the present study, the differences in the resistance of eight cultivars of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Kimia, Payam, Pegah, Sepideh, Spidfid, KGS23, KFS2, and KFS18) against Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), a polyphagous pest of stored products, were evaluated based on demographic parameters, nutritional indices, and digestive enzymatic activities within the pest. The results revealed that the development time of R. dominica was the shortest when reared on Kimia, Spidfid, and KFS2, while the longest was recorded in those fed on Payam and Pegah. The fecundity of R. dominica was the lowest on Pegah. Furthermore, Kimia and Sepideh showed the highest intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ), whereas the lowest values for these parameters were observed on Pegah and KGS23. The highest relative growth rate (RGR) of R. dominica was achieved on Sepideh, whereas the lowest RGR was observed on KGS23. The highest level of digestive proteolytic activity in R. dominica was observed on Sepideh, whereas the lowest level was found on KGS23. The amylolytic activity in R. dominica was the highest on Sepideh, and the lowest on Pegah and KGS23. The findings showed significant negative correlations between fecundity, intrinsic rate of increase, and amylolytic activity of the pest with the total phenolic content of the studied sorghum cultivars. Furthermore, the results obtained from cluster analysis revealed that Sepideh, Kimia, and KFS2 were the susceptible cultivars for population growth of R. dominica, while Payam, Pegah, and KGS23 were the partially resistant hosts for this pest. The pest-resistant sorghum cultivars identified in this study can potentially be utilized in combination with other pest control strategies for sustainable management of R. dominica, which may help reduce the excessive use of chemical insecticides.

Comparison of the effect of tea shoots during different seasons in Arma chinensis (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) reared on Ectropis grisescens (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) pupae.

In this study, we compared the growth, development, and fecundity of Arma chinensis (Fallou) reared on pupae of the geometrid Ectropis grisescens Warren fed on tea shoots during different seasons of the year. The raw data on life history were analyzed using the age-stage, 2-sex life table. When reared on spring or winter geometrid pupae, the duration of the immature stage of A. chinensis was significantly longer than in those produced during the summer or autumn. The survival rate of immature A. chinensis reared on autumn geometrid pupae was significantly lower compared to other treatments. Reproductive diapause was observed in adult A. chinensis reared on winter geometrid pupae. The adult preoviposition period (APOP), total preoviposition period (TPOP), and total longevity were significantly longer in A. chinensis reared on winter pupae than in the other treatments. The fecundity of A. chinensis reared on spring geometrid pupae was significantly lower than in the other treatments. The higher intrinsic rate of increase of the A. chinensis reared on summer pupae (r = 0.0966 day-1) and autumn pupae (r = 0.0983 day-1) resulted in higher fecundity, shorter immature duration, and shorter TPOP compared to the winter and spring populations. These findings can be utilized to enhance and sustain biological control of E. grisescens in tea plantations.

Seasonal population fluctuation and life history in different temperatures of Myzus cerasi (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on cherry trees: a field and laboratory study.

This study determined the seasonal population fluctuation of Myzus cerasi (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in cherry orchards and the effect of different temperatures on the life-history parameters of these aphids under laboratory conditions. Our field results showed that the population fluctuations and densities of M. cerasi on cherry trees were positively affected by the temperature increase between seasons. Also, our laboratory results showed that M. cerasi survived and reproduced at all temperatures tested under laboratory conditions. Female longevity was observed as 19.00 ± 2.38, 18.72 ± 0.49, and 12.59 ± 0.74 days, and fecundity was 10.14 ± 2.26, 9.36 ± 0.59, and 7.27 ± 0.84 offspring/female at 20, 25, and 30 °C, respectively. Although the highest net reproductive rate (R0) was observed numerically at 25 °C (7.80 offspring/female), there was no significant difference compared to 20 °C (7.10 offspring/female). The highest intrinsic rate of increase (r) and the highest finite rate of increase (λ) were calculated at 30 °C (0.15 ± 0.01 and 1.16 ± 0.01 day-1, respectively), and there was no significant difference compared to 25 °C. The mean generation time (T) of M. cerasi showed a significant difference at all temperatures tested and decreased from 22.59 ± 0.33 days at 20 °C to 12.78 ± 0.37 days at 30 °C. Consequently, our results revealed that the seasonal population fluctuation and the life history of M. cerasi in the field and laboratory conditions were affected significantly by different temperatures. Our data obtained in the field and the laboratory will contribute to the understanding of M. cerasi biology and to the management of the pest.

Life Table Parameters of the Tomato Leaf Miner Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on Five Tomato Cultivars in China.

Tomato is the most preferred host plant for Tuta absoluta, a newly emerged devastating invasive pest in China. However, no study has evaluated the damage risk of T. absoluta on processed tomato worldwide. In the current study, the life table parameters of T. absoluta were systematically investigated on five tomato cultivars (one fresh tomato cultivar, four processed tomato cultivars) to determine their susceptibility to T. absoluta infestation. T. absoluta had a better population growth ability on the fresh tomato, "Dafen", showing shorter duration of the preadult stage, higher lifetime fecundity, and a higher intrinsic rate of increase compared to four processed tomato cultivars. Meanwhile, the life table parameters of T. absoluta among different processed tomato cultivars also showed significant differences. Th9 was the most susceptible to T. absoluta attack, while Th1902, Heinz1015, and Dimen2272 were the least suitable ones for its development and reproduction. In summary, these tomato cultivars are the most recommended for commercial tomato production to reduce the damage caused by T. absoluta and improve the integrated pest management strategy.

Life-history traits of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) distributed across a latitudinal range of 23 °N-6 °S.

The growth and associated traits of Aedes aegypti (L.) mosquitoes may adapt and evolve in response to the costs associated with body size in relation to latitudinal variation. We analyzed the life-history traits and energy reserves of field-collected mosquitoes from Taiwan, Thailand, and Indonesia along a latitudinal range spanning from 23°N to 6°S. A U-shaped relationship between body size and latitude was observed. Our study demonstrated the role of latitudinal temperature variations in determining the body size patterns of Ae. aegypti. Notably, the body size of the northern populations (from Taiwan) was significantly larger than those of the tropical populations from Thailand and Indonesia. Models have demonstrated that regional precipitation levels may contribute to body trait variations in certain high-latitude populations in Thailand. However, Indonesian populations have high development rates and large body sizes, indicating the involvement of other physiological traits in determining mosquito body size. The reproductive output of the adult females in this study was positively correlated with body size, but our measure of longevity did not covary significantly with the body size. By contrast, the reproductive output of mosquito-tested populations was in inverse proportion to longevity. Additionally, the mean teneral glycogen levels in the Indonesian and Thai populations were 2.5 times higher than those in the Taiwanese populations. The Indonesian and Thai populations had low mean generation and doubling times, resulting in a high intrinsic rate of increase compared with that of the Taiwanese populations, despite the Taiwanese populations having the highest net reproduction rate.

Demographic Parameters of Anthocoris minki Dohrn (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) Reared on Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) and Pea (Pisum sativum L.) as Egg Laying Media.

Anthocoris minki Dohrn (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) is used as a biological control agent of various agricultural pests. This study determined the effect of different egg laying materials, i.e., faba bean, common bean, and pea on population parameters of A. minki using age-stage, two-sex life table. The longest (34.45 d) and the shortest (21.32 d) adult longevity was noted on common bean and pea, respectively. Likewise, the highest (92%) and the lowest (69%) preadult survival rate was recorded on faba bean and pea, respectively. The highest fecundity (93.74 eggs/female) was noted on faba bean followed by common bean (43.95 eggs/female) and pea (48.69 eggs/female). Oviposition period remained unaffected, while higher oviposition days (22 d) were noted on faba bean compared with common bean (10 d) and pea (14 d). The shortest and the longest adult pre-oviposition period and total pre-ovipositional period were calculated for common bean and pea, respectively. The highest intrinsic rate of increase (r) (0.1159 d-1) and finite rate of increase (λ) (1.1229 d-1) were noted on common bean, while the lowest (r = 0.0939 d-1; λ = 1.0985 d-1) were noted on pea. Paired bootstrap analyses indicated that the highest net reproductive rate (R0) (43.12 offspring) was recorded on faba bean. Egg hatching rate significantly differed among plants (P < 0.01) and it was 80.50%, 71.10%, and 38.90% on common bean, faba bean and pea, respectively. It is concluded that faba bean would be the most suitable host for mass rearing of A. minki, while pea proved unsuitable.

Life table and cold tolerance of laboratory-reared Penthaleus major (Acari: Penthaleidae).

Penthaleus major (Dugés) is a significant agricultural pest that attacks various pasture, vegetable, and crop plants. Temperature plays a critical role in the life history of P. major. However, there is limited understanding of its life table at different temperatures and cold tolerance. This study aimed to elucidate the performance of P. major by constructing life tables at 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 °C. The results showed that P. major successfully developed at 9‒21 °C. However, no adults emerged at 6°C, and no eggs hatched at 24 °C. The highest intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), net reproductive rate (R0), and gross reproductive rate (GRR) were observed at 12 °C. The supercooling point (SCP) exhibited significant variations at different developmental stages. The highest SCP (‒9.75 °C) was recorded in 10-day-old female adults, while the lowest SCP (‒24.37 °C) was observed in larvae. For female adult mites of 2, 6, and 10 days old, the low lethal temperatures (LLT50) were ‒14.63, ‒12.03, and ‒11.08 °C, respectively. This study provided valuable insights for modeling and predicting the population dynamics of P. major in the field and offered implications for developing successful management strategies.

Development and reproduction of Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Acari: Tetranychidae) on transgenic insect-resistant cotton cultivars

Effects of transgenic insect-resistant Bt cotton Zhongkangza 5 and Lumianyan 23 and Bt + CpTI cotton sGK958 and Zhongmiansuo 45 on Tetranychus cinnabarinus growth and reproduction were compared with those of nontransgenic cotton (K836) under laboratory conditions. Developmental times of different T. cinnabarinus stages fed on transgenic Bt and Bt + CpTI cotton differed significantly from those fed on K836. Pre-oviposition (1.44 d) and oviposition (12.71 d) periods and female life span (14.11 d) were longer on K836 than on transgenic cotton. Maximum fecundity was 75.61 eggs per female on K836, while minimum fecundity was 54.68 eggs per female on sGK958. Net reproductive rate was highest with 55.00 female offspring on K836, whereas the lowest was 37.219 female offspring on Zhongkangza 5. The highest intrinsic rate of increase was 0.454 day−1 on K836, whereas the lowest was 0.246 day−1 on Zhongkangza 5. The highest finite rate of increase was 1.575 day−1 on K836, whereas the lowest was 1.278 day−1 on Zhongkangza 5. The shortest population doubling time was 1.526 d on K836, while the longest was 2.823 d on Zhongkangza 5. Thus, transgenic cotton inhibited T. cinnabarinus development and reproduction, indicating transgenic cotton could prevent damage by T. cinnabarinus or other pests.

Potential of a new phytoseiid species Neoseiulus setarius (Acari: Phytoseiidae) as a biocontrol agent: Biological and demographic parameters on prey and non-prey foods

Neoseiulus setarius Ma, Meng & Fan is a newly described phytoseiid species found in Inner Mongolia of China. To evaluate the potential of N. setarius as a biocontrol agent, we studied life table parameters of N. setarius reared on four food resources, including western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, eriophyoid mite Aceria pallida Keifer, cattail pollen Typha latifolia L. and poplar pollen Populus alba L. Neoseiulus setarius fed on two prey species developed faster and produced more eggs than those fed with two kinds of pollen. Neoseiulus setarius had the shortest juvenile development time on A. pallida (5.38 days), and the highest daily fecundity on F. occidentalis (2.43 eggs/female/day). The juvenile development time of N. setarius was similar on cattail pollen and poplar pollen, but the fecundity of N. setarius was significantly higher on cattail pollen. There were significant differences in the demographic parameters of N. setarius reared on the four different diets. The highest intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was on F. occidentalis (0.178 day−1), followed by A. pallida (0.159 day−1), cattail pollen (0.127 day−1) and poplar pollen (0.092 day−1). Neoseiulus setarius showed higher fitness in development and reproduction on prey (F. occidentalis and A. pallida) and cattail pollen. These results suggest that N. setarius could be a promising biocontrol agent for the management of thrips and gall mites.

Effect of temperature on the life history and development of Typhlodromus athiasae Porath and Swirski (Acari: Phytoseiidae) as a predator of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae)

The present study determined the effects of different temperatures on the life history parameters and development of Typhlodromus athiasae Porath and Swirski (Acari: Phytoseiidae) for the first time. The study was conducted at 20, 25 and 30°C and the predators fed on Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) under laboratory conditions. Our results show that temperature significantly affected pre-adult and adult durations of T. athiasae. The adult longevity was calculated as 47.90, 22.88, 19.50 days for females, 26.11, 19.90, 20.46 days for males at 20, 25 and 30°C, respectively. The adult females of T. athiasae laid 15.80 (eggs/female), 17.20 (eggs/female) and 12.38 (eggs/female) eggs at the respective temperatures tested. The highest net reproductive rate (R0= 8.90 offspring/individual) determined at 25°C but no significant difference was found among the other temperatures. The highest intrinsic rate of increase (r= 0.12 day-1) was observed at 25°C and 30°C. Although the highest finite rate of increase (λ= 1.13 day-1) was determined at 25°C, no significant difference was observed between this temperature and 30°C. Also, the shortest mean generation time (T=14.97 day) was obtained at 30°C whereas the longest mean generation time (T=28.39 day) was observed at 20°C. Our results revealed that 25°C was more suitable for mass production even if the female and male of T. athiasae survived and reproduced at all temperatures. Consequently, our present results and the data to be obtained in greenhouse and field conditions will reveal the potential of T. athiasae as a biological control agent of T. urticae.

Different Tea Germplasms Distinctly Influence the Adaptability of Toxoptera aurantii (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

Aphids are typical phloem-sucking insect pests. A good understanding regarding their feeding behavior and population dynamics are critical for evaluating host adaptation and screening of aphid-resistant resources. Herein, the adaptability of Toxoptera aurantii (Boyer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) to different hosts was evaluated via electropenetrography and an age-stage, two-sex life table on six tea germplasms: Zikui (ZK), Zhongcha108 (ZC108), Zhongcha111 (ZC111), Qianmei419 (QM419), Meitan5 (MT5), and Fudingdabaicha (FD). Our findings revealed that the feeding activities of T. aurantii differed considerably among the host plants. T. aurantii exhibited significantly more pathway activities on ZK and FD than on the other hosts. However, the duration of feeding of T. aurantii on ZK phloem considerably decreased compared with those of the other germplasms. Life parameters indicated that T. aurantii exhibited the highest intrinsic rate of increase (r), net reproductive rate (R0), and finite rate of increase (λ) on MT5, and the maximum values of total longevity and oviposition period were recorded on FD; these variables were reduced significantly on ZK. The results of our study demonstrate that T. aurantii can successfully survive on the six tea germplasms; however, ZK was less suitable for T. aurantii and should be considered as a potential source of resistance in breeding and Integrated Pest Management.

Effect of larval diets on the life table parameters of dengue mosquito, Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) using age-stage two sex life table theory

The current study regarding the effects of larval diets on the life table parameters of dengue mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti was conducted under laboratory conditions at 27 ± 2 °C and 60 ± 5% relative humidity at NIFA (Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture) Peshawar, Pakistan. The data on life table parameters of Ae. aegypti reared on Diet 1 (replacement diet), Diet 2 (Khan’s diet for Anopheles), Diet 3 (Khan’s modified diet) and Diet 4 (IAEA diet) were analyzed using the age-stage, two-sex life table software. Diet 4 (IAEA) was used as a control for comparison. The results indicated that significantly maximum percentage of egg hatching of Ae. aegypti was observed when reared on Diet 4 (73.86%) and Diet 3 (72.90%), while less % of egg hatching was recorded in Diet 1 (40.67%) and Diet 2 (55.53%). The data further showed that the Diet 3 had a highest intrinsic rate of increase (r) (0.097 ± 5.68 day−1), finite rate of increase (λ) (1.10 ± 6.26 day−1) and net reproductive rate (R0) (11.99 ± 1.52 eggs/female) followed by Diet 2 and Diet 4. The mean generation time (T) of Ae. aegypti reared on Diet 3 (23.67 ± 0.86 days) and Diet 1 (24.05 ± 0.61 days) was significantly shorter than Diet 2 (26.15 ± 0.71 days) and Diet 4 (26.41 ± 0.38 days). The overall results revealed that Diet 3 showed good results at different life table parameters of Ae. aegypti and can be used as the preferred diet in the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) where the mass culture of mosquitoes is required.

Evaluation of the Predatory Mite Neoseiulus barkeri against Spider Mites Damaging Rubber Trees.

The spider mites Eotetranychus sexmaculatus, Eutetranychus orientalis and Oligonychus biharensisin are severe pests of rubber trees in China. The predatory mite Neoseiulus barkeri has been found to be a natural enemy of these three pests, while nothing is known about the biological performance of this phytoseiid predator against these phytophagous mites. In this study, the development, survivorship, reproduction, adult longevity, fecundity, sex ratio and population growth parameters of N. barkeri fed on these pests were evaluated in comparison to the factitious prey Tyrophagus putrescentiae in the laboratory at 25 ± 1 °C, 75 ± 5% relative humidity and a 12:12 (L:D) h photoperiod. The results showed that N. barkeri could develop from egg to adult and reproduced successfully on the three preys. The survival rate of N. barkeri from egg to adult was higher when fed on E. orientalis (100%) and T. putrescentiae (100%) than when fed on O. biharensisin (93.60%) and E. sexmaculatus (71.42%). The shortest and longest generation time for N. barkeri were observed on E. orientalis with 6.67 d and E. sexmaculatus with 12.50 d, respectively. The maximum fecundity (29.35 eggs per female) and highest intrinsic rate of increase (rm = 0.226) were recorded when N. barkeri fed on E. orientalis, while feeding on E. sexmaculatus gave the minimum fecundity (1.87 eggs per female) and lowest reproduction rate (rm = 0.041). The values of these parameters for N. barkeri evaluated on O. biharensisin were found to be comparable to those obtained on T. putrescentiae. The sex ratio of N. barkeri progeny on the preys mentioned above, apart from O. biharensisin, was female biased. According to the findings, N. barkeri could serve as a promising biocontrol agent against E. orientalis and O. biharensisin, and possibly E. sexmaculatus on rubber trees.

The effects of different Charleston pepper cultivars on the demographic parameters and the antioxidant levels of Myzus persicae (Sulzer, 1776) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Host plant diversity causes differences in the biology and adaptation of insects. In this study, variations in some biological properties and adaptive antioxidative response of Myzus persicae (Sulzer,1776) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on five Charleston pepper, Capsicum annuum L. (Solanaceae) cultivars were investigated under laboratory conditions (25±1°C, 60±5% RH). The lowest intrinsic rate of increase (r = 0.193 d-1) of M. persicae was estimated in the tested cohort fed with the Kanyon cultivar, while the highest intrinsic rate of increase (r = 0.248 d-1) was found on the Tufan cultivar. The cohort fed with Safkan cultivar exhibited the highest levels of GST-CDNB and EST-PNPA at 562.80 and 207.64 nmol/mg protein, respectively, whereas the cohort fed with Kanyon cultivar showed the lowest levels at 317.04 and 132.14 nmol/mg protein, respectively. Analysis of life table parameters and enzymatic/non-enzymatic antioxidant levels of M. persicae showed that among the cultivars we tested, the Tufan cultivar was the most preferred host by M. persicae, while Kanyon cultivar was a less suitable host.

Life history of Neoseiulus agrestis (Karg) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) fed on the storage mite, Thyreophagus sp. (Acari: Acaridae) at different temperatures

The development and life history parameters of Neoseiulus agrestis feeding on the storage mite, Thyreophagus sp., were studied at three different temperatures of 20, 25, and 30 °C. The results show that juvenile development and oviposition period as well as reproductive potential of this predatory mite are significantly affected by the temperature. The development times of immature and the life expectancy of adults ranged from 11.36 to 6.06 days and 58.71 to 38.65 days, respectively, depending on the temperature. The average total number of eggs laid per female at 20 °C (27.21), 25 °C (46.38), and 30 °C (61.12) differed significantly from each other. The highest net reproductive rate (R&lt;sub&gt;0&lt;/sub&gt;) was 51.95 (offspring/individual) at 30 °C, although there was no significant difference from that obtained at 25 °C (37.10). Furthermore, the highest intrinsic rate of increase (r&lt;sub&gt;m&lt;/sub&gt;) is 0.286 day&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; at 30 °C. Moreover, the highest finite rate of increase (λ = 1.331 day&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;) and the shortest mean generation time (T = 13.786 days) and doubling time (DT = 2.418 days) were also determined at 30 °C. Our results indicate that N. agrestis successfully completed immature development and can survive and reproduce at all temperatures tested. However, a number of biological traits of this predator are affected by the temperature on this food source. Finally, a temperature of 30 °C seems to be more suitable for mass rearing of this predator on Thyreophagus sp. Further studies should be carried out to determine the biological characteristics and life cycle parameters of N. agrestis on various important pests such as spider mites, whiteflies and thrips.

Effects of Different Diets on Biological Characteristics of Predatory Mite Amblyseius Eharai (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

In this study, we investigated the effects of different diets on the development and reproduction of the predatory mite Amblyseius eharai. The results show that feeding on citrus red mite (Panonychus citri) led to the fastest life cycle completion (6.9 ± 0.22 days), the longest oviposition period (26.19 ± 0.46 days), the greatest female longevity (42.03 ± 0.43 days), and the highest total number of eggs per female (45.63 ± 0.94 eggs). Feeding on Artemia fanciscana cysts resulted in the highest oviposition rate (1.98 ± 0.04 eggs), a high total number of eggs per female (33.93 ± 0.36 eggs), and the highest intrinsic rate of increase (rm = 0.242). The hatching rate did not differ significantly among the five types of food, and the proportion of females ranged from 60% to 65% across all diets.

Temperature-Dependent Biology and Population Performances of the Coffee Berry Borer Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) on Artificial Diet

At different observation intervals of 1, 5, and 10 days during a trial period of 30 days, the mortality rates of Hypothenemus hampei were 100, 95, and 55%, and the fecundity rates were 0.55, 8.45, and 19.35 eggs/female, respectively. At temperatures of 18, 21, 24, and 27 °C, the development time of the immature stage of H. hampei was significantly shortened with increasing temperature. Furthermore, the lower developmental threshold (T0) and thermal summation (K) of the immature stage were 8.91 °C and 485.44 degree-days, respectively. The greatest longevity of female and male adults reached 115.77 and 26.50 days, respectively, at 18 °C. The highest fecundity was 29.00 eggs/female at 24 °C. The population parameters of H. hampei were analyzed on the basis of the age–stage, two-sex life table theory. According to the data, the parameters were significantly affected by temperature. The highest net reproductive rate (R0) was 13.32 eggs/individual at 24 °C. The highest intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) were calculated as 0.0401 and 1.0409 day−1, respectively, at a temperature of 27 °C. The shortest mean generation time (T) was 51.34 days at 27 °C. Overall, we provide a discussion on comprehensive biological information regarding H. hampei, thus providing basic knowledge for further research on this pest.

Preference and performance of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, on six cereal crop species

AbstractThe fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a major migratory invasive pest that poses a severe threat to agricultural production and food security in China. In this study, we estimated the effects of six cereal crops on the development, survival, and fecundity of FAW using the age‐stage, two‐sex life table: maize (Zea mays L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], oats (Avena sativa L.), millet (species, authority) (all Poaceae), and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) (Amaranthaceae). In a six‐choice test using detached leaf material, FAW larvae preferentially occurred on maize, followed by sorghum, within 6–24 h, and occurred the least on millet and quinoa. After 24 h, they had consumed the most leaf material from sorghum and maize, and the least from quinoa. In no‐choice tests using detached leaf material, they performed best on maize in terms of development (e.g., short development time), survival (e.g., high larval survival and pupation rate), and fecundity (e.g., high number of oviposition days and number of eggs laid per female), resulting in the highest predicted population growth (e.g., high intrinsic rate of increase and net reproductive rate). Although maize was found to be the most appropriate host plant, FAW was able to complete its life cycle on all six tested cereals. Our findings can help in predicting population dynamics and deepening our understanding of the potential damage incurred by FAW infestation, especially in regions under maize cultivation.

Life history and life table parameters of the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) fed on 10 rice cultivars and lines in Iran

The rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is one of the most destructive pests of stored cereal grains globally. We evaluated the resistance of different rice cultivars (Anam, Gilar, Hashemi, Keshvari, Rash, and Tisa) and lines (8608, MN-7, TH-1, and TH-2) using life history and life table parameters of S. oryzae at 28 ± 1 °C, 70 ± 5% relative humidity, and complete darkness. The immature survival of S. oryzae ranged from 37% on Rash to 82% on Hashemi. The developmental times on tested rice cultivars and lines were significantly shortest on Hashemi (35.39 days) and longest on Rash (45.20 days). The fecundity (number of eggs laid per reproductive day) of S. oryzae reared on Hashemi (318.16 eggs) was about 2.5-fold higher than that on Rash (127.40 eggs). The highest intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was in S. oryzae reared on Hashemi (0.076 day−1), and the lowest was on Rash (0.043 day−1). The grain weight loss varied from 11.31% on Rash to 40.54% on Hashemi. Significant negative correlations were recorded between the starch, protein, and total phenolics content of tested grains and fecundity, rm, net reproductive rate (R0), and finite rate of increase (λ) of S. oryzae. Owing to slow development, poor fecundity, low grain weight loss, and low rm value of S. oryzae on cultivar Rash, it was more unsuitable diet than the other cultivars and lines for population growth of this weevil. Resistant rice cultivar(s) could be used in a manner consistent with other controlling methods for integrated management of S. oryzae.