Effect of Prey Densities on the Biological Attributes and Predatory Efficiency of Harmonia Dimidiata (Fab.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Feed On Schizaphis. Graminum (Rond.) Aphid

Author(s)

Javed Khan , Ashraf Khan , Irfan Ahmad , Awais Rasool ,

Download Full PDF Pages: 74-86 | Views: 335 | Downloads: 76 | DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5734097

Volume 5 - October 2021 (10)

Abstract

Research experiments were conducted on the biological attributes of ladybird beetle Harmonia dimidiata (Fab.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) at constant prey densities feed on Schizaphis gaminum aphid at constant temperature (24 ±1 °C) at Insect Pest Management Program, National Agricultural Research Centre Islamabad.
The effect of six constant prey densities of S. graminum aphid was investigated on development, weight, reproductive and predatory efficiency of larvae and adult female H. dimidiata. The prey density for larval and adult stages was different. The prey densities for larvae were 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 aphids/day and for adult female beetle the prey density include 40, 80, 120, 160, 200 and 240 aphids/ day. The larvae were maintained till pupation and adult female beetles were maintained from the time of eclosion till their death on constant prey densities. The duration of different larval instars were different at lower prey densities and as the densities increase the duration may become non-significant at higher densities. The pre-oviposition period was significantly different at lower densities and at lowest prey density, 40 aphids /day, the female beetles could not produce eggs, while at higher densities the pre-oviposition period was non-significant different. The oviposition period was also significantly different at lower densities while at higher densities 200 and 240 aphids/ day the oviposition period was non-significant different from each other. The female fecundity was lowest at lower densities and highest at prey density 200 aphids/ day. Once the asymptote level attain by the female beetle then further increase in prey density have non-significant effect on female fecundity. The functional response exhibited by first, second, third and fourth instar larvae exemplified type II with optimum response at a prey density of 40, 60, 80 and 100 aphids/ day respectively. Both the functional and the reproductive numerical response of female beetle showed the upper asymptote level at 200 aphids/ day.
The study highlight the importance of environmental regulation in mass rearing of ladybird beetle H. dimidiata for application as a biological control agent against economically important aphid pests of wheat crops in Pakistan.

Keywords

Prey Densities, Biological Attributes, Predatory Efficiency

References

                    i            Agarwala, B.K., P. Bardhanaroy, P. Yasuda, T. Takizawa. 2001. Prey consumption and oviposition in aphidophagous predator Menochilus sexmaculatus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in relation to prey density and adult size. J. Environ. Entomol. 30: 1182-1187.

        ii            Agarwala, B.K., T.K. Singh., R.K. Lokeshwari and M. Sharmila. 2009. Functional response and reproductive of the aphidophagous ladybird beetles, Harmonia dimidiata (Fab.) in Oak tress of sericulture importance. J. Asia-Pacific. Entomol. 12: 179-182

      iii            Begon M, J.L. Harper, C.R. Townsend. 1996. Ecology: individuals, populations, and communities. Blackwell, London.

       iv            Bellows, T.S. and M.P. Hassell. 1999. Theories and mechanisms of natural population regulation. In: Bellows TS, Fisher TW (eds). Handbook of biological control. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 17-44

         v            Dixon A.F.G. 2000. Insect predator–prey dynamics. Ladybird beetles & biological control. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

       vi            Farren, A., M.O. Cruz de Boepaepe, H. Schander and M.M. Larroque. 1984. Lesaptitudetrophiques et reproductrices des females de Semiadalia undesimnotata (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae). Entomophaga. 29,157-170.

     vii            He, J.L., E.P. Ma, Y.C. Shen, W.L. Chen and X.Q. Sun. 1994. Observations of the biological characteristics of 358 Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). J. Shanghai Agric. Coll. 12: 119–124

   viii            Hodek, I. and A. Honek. 1996. Ecology of Coccinellidae. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht,  480pp

       ix            Holling, C. S. 1959. Some characteristics of simple type of predation and parasitism. The Canadian Entomologist, 91: 385- 398.

         x            Hu, Y.S., Z.M. Wang, C.L. Ning, Z.Q. Pi and G.Q. Gao. 1989. The functional response of Harmonia (Leis) axyridis to their prey of Cinara sp. Natr. Enemies Insects 11: 164–168

       xi            Jalali, M. A., L. Tirry and P. De Clercq. 2010. Effect of temperature on the functional response of 18 Adalia bipunctata to Myzus persicae. BioCont. 55: 261-269

     xii            Jeschke, J.M., M. Kopp and R. Tollrian.  2002. Predator functional responses: Discriminating between handling and digesting prey. Ecol. Monographs 72 (1): 95–112

   xiii            Koch RL, W.D. Hutchison, R.C. Venette and G.E. Heimpel.2003 Susceptibility of immature monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Danainae), to predation by Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Biol. Cont. 28: 265-270

   xiv            Lou, H.H. 1987 Functional response of Harmonia axyridis to the density of Rhopalosiphum prunifoliae. Natr. Enemies Insects 9: 84-87

     xv            Murdoch, W.W. and A. Oaten. 1975 Predation and population stability. Adv. Ecol. Res. 9: 2–13

   xvi            Omkar and A. Pervez. 2004. Temperature-dependent development and immature survival of an aphi-dophagous lady beetle, Propylea dissecta (Mul-sant). J. Appl. Entomol. 128:510-514

 xvii            Sarmento, R.A., A. Pallini, M. Venzon, O. DeSouza, A.J. Molina-Rugama and C.L. Oliveira. 2007. Functional response of the predator Eriopis connexa (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) to different prey types. Braz. Arch. Biol. Technol. 50: 121–126

xviii            Sharmila, M., P. Bijaya, T.K. Singh and B.K. Agarwala. 2010. Predatory efficiency and developmental attributes of Harmonia dimidiata (Fabricius) (Coleptera: Coccinellidae) in relation to prey density. J. Bio- cont.. 24 (3): 218-221.

   xix            Solomon, M.E. 1949. The natural control of animal populations. J. Anim. Ecol. 18: 1–35

     xx            Soodeh D. D., A. Sahragard and J. Hajizadeh. 2013. The effect of prey density on life table parameters of Hippodamia variegate (Coleoptera; Coccinellidae) fed on Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Apiddidae) under laboratory conditions. Hindawi Publishing Corporation ISRN Entomology. Article ID 281476, 7 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/281476

Cite this Article: