Biology and life table parameters of Hyperaspis polita feeding on Phenacoccus solenopsis and Planococcus citri under laboratory conditions

The coccinellid Hyperaspis polita Weise is one of the important predators in controlling mealybugs. In this study, biology and life table parameters of H. polita were determined by their feeding on two species of mealybugs, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley and Planococcus citri Risso, to idetify the best prey for mass rearing of H. polita under laboratory conditions (optimal tepmerature 30 ± 1°C, 65 ± 5% RH and a photoperiod of 14L:10D). Data analyzing based on the age-stage, two sex life table theory indicated that egg incubation, larval instars, prepupal and pupal stages period were 5.08, 3.62, 2.47, and 6.55±0.07 days feeding on P. citri and 5.18, 3.75, 2.38, and 6.16days feeding on P. solenopsis, respectively. The APOP, TPOP, ovioisition period, female and male longevity, mean number of eggs per female were 4.36, 32.28, 51.72, 81.89, 69.84 days, and 220.8±24.44 eggs on P.citri and 4.87, 32.39, 45.33, 70.85, 64.44 days, and 182.61 eggs on P. solenopsis, respectively. The maximum daily fecundity was 5.5 eggs per day on both of prey. The life table parameters of H. polita including the intrinsic rate of increase (rm), finite rate of increase (λ), net reproductive rate (R0), mean generation time (T) were estimated as 0.0783±0.0042 d-1, 1.0814±0.0045 d-1, 53.35±10.06 offsprings, 50.80± 0.81 d on P. citri, and 0.067±0.0045 d-1, 1.0797±0.0047 d-1, 43.35±8.58 offsprings, 49.14±0.80 d on P. solenopsis, respectively. According to our results, H. polita can successfully survive and reproduce on both of mealybugs, thus both of them are suitable for mass production of this predator. But regaring to easily rearing of P.citri in laboratory conditions this species is suggested as the best prey.