Life Cycle and Population Growth Parameters of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Col.: Coccinellidae) Reared on Planococcus citri (Risso) (Hem.: Pseudococcidae) on Coleus

Abstract

Life cycle parameters were estimated for development, longevity, fecundity and oviposition period, of the mealybug predator, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Col.: Coccinellidae) fed on Planococcus citri (Risso) (Hem.: Pseudococcidae) reared on coleus plant, Solenostemon scutellarioides (L.) Codd.. All experiments were conducted in laboratory at temperature 27 ± 1ºC , 65 ± 5% RH and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) hours. The incubation period, total larval period, pre-pupal and pupal period of C. montrouzieri were 3.945 ± 0.047, 12.993 ± 0.498, 2.432 ± 0.071 and 7.791 ± 0.103 days, respectively. The pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition period of C. montrozieri were 5.60 ± 0.187, 70.375 ± 2.920 and 2.875 ± 0.360 days, respectively. Population growth parameters calculated from the data are: the intrinsic rate of increase (r_m) = 0.092 ± 0.002, the finite rate of increase (λ), the net reproduction rate (R₀), the mean generation time (T) and the doubling time (DT) of C. montrouzieri were, 1.097 ± 0.002 d–1, 125.339 ± 5.136 females / female, 52.356 ± 1.306 days and 7.511 ± 0.161 days, respectively.