Influence of five diets on development and reproduction of Coccinella undecimpunctata aegyptica Reiche (Col., Coccinellidae) in controlled conditions

In the present research، the influence of 5 diets e. g. pistachio psyllid nymph، the cowpea aphid nymph Aphis craccivora Koch (Hem.، Aphididae) (the common aphid species on the herbaceous plants in the pistachio orchards of Rafsanjan)، maize pollen and mix diets of psyllid nymph+aphid nymph as well as psyllid nymph+pollen on development and reproduction of 11-spots lady bird، C. undecimpunctata aegyptica was studied. All laboratory experiments were conducted in controlled conditions، 27. 5±0. 5°C، RH 55±5% and photoperiod 16:18h (L: D). The results indicated that pollen is not a suitable food for this species since both larvae and adults died when reared on this diet. However، the other four diets were considered to be the essential preys. The preimaginal stages of ladybird on psyllid nymph، cowpea aphid nymph and mix diets of psyllid nymph+ aphid nymph and psyllid nymph+ pollen were lasted 14. 9، 11. 9، 12. 2 and 14. 6 days on average respectively. The lowest mortality of larvae was obtained on mixed diet of psyllid+aphid، although it was the highest when they fed on psyllid+pollen. The emerged ladybird adults that fed on aphid nymphs during of the larval period were heavier than other diets. The female adults’ life span of ladybird on psyllid، aphid، psyllid+aphid and psyllid+pollen were 52. 3، 61. 1، 41. 4 and 56. 2 days، and their fecundity were obtained 826، 1947، 1281 and 727 eggs on average respectively. It was found that C. undecimpunctata aegyptica is considered as a psyllophagous coccinellid beetle although it is known as an aphidophagous ladybird too. The conservation strategy in pistachio orchards is recommended to increase the efficiency of psyllid natural enemies in pistachio orchards at this stage.