Demographic study of the green leafhopper, Empoasca decipiens (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) on four sugar beet cultivars

The green leafhopper, Empoasca decipiens Paoli (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is one ofpests of sugar beet, Beta vulgaris L. in Iran. In this research, life table, reproduction and population growth parameters of E. decipiens were studied on four sugar beet cultivars: Shirin, Rasool, PP8 and IC. The experiments were conducted in a growth chamber at temperature of 25±1ºC, 50-60% RH and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. The survival rate of individuals developed into adults from the initial cohort stage was estimated 0.78, 0.81, 0.78, and 0.76 on Shirin, Rasool, PP8 and IC, respectively. The life expectancy was 13.75, 14.89, 14.46 and 15.72 days, respectively at the first day of adult emergence. The highest gross and net fecundity rates were on IC and Shirin, respectively. Gross reproduction rate were 22.03, 20.07, 22.06 and 22.31 female per female per generation, on Shirin, Rasool, PP8 and IC, respectively. Intrinsic rate of increase (rm) were 0.099 and 0.104 (day-1) on Shirin and IC, respectively. The mean generation time (T), net reproduction rate (R0), doubling time (DT) and finite rate of increase (
) on these cultivars were estimated by Jackknife

29.14- 31.75 days, 20.07-22.31 female per female per generation, 6.62-7.01 days, and 1.103-1.110 offspring per female per day, respectively. These results provide important information for demographic parameters of the green leafhopper on different sugar beet cultivars.