Two-sex life table of Aenasius arizonensis (Hym.: Encyrtidae) reared on Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hem.: Pseudococcidae) in laboratory conditions

The solenopsis mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, 1898 (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is a serious pest of plants in different regions of the world. This pest was recorded from south of Iran and causes highly damage on urban vegetation in recent years. In present study, life table parameters of Aenasius arizonensis (Girault, 1915) (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae) were studied at laboratory conditions, on 3rd-instar nymphs and young adult females of Ph. solenopsis. Data were analyzed based on the age-stage, two-sex life table theory. Results showed that female and male immature periods of A. arizonensis on the 3rd-instar nymphs of Ph. solenopsis were significantly shorter in comparison with the young adult females. Also the fecundity of wasp parasitoid was significantly higher on the 3rd-instar nymphs than that of on the young adult females (170.90 and 150.00 eggs/female) on the 3rd-instar nymphs and young adult females, respectively. According to the results, intrinsic rate of increase (rm), finite rate of increase (λ), gross reproductive rate (GRR), net reproductive rate (R0) and mean generation time (T) were 0.216 day-1, 1.241 day-1, 119.39 offspring/individual, 100.51 offspring/individual and 21.32 days, on the 3rd-instar nymphs and were 0.165 day-1, 1.180 day-1, 92.78 offspring/individual, 76.96 offspring/individual and 26.20 days on the young adult females, respectively. There was significant difference only between the mean intrinsic rate of increase, finite rate of increase and mean generation time. Based on the results, the 3rd-instar nymph of Ph. solenopsis was more suitable host stage for A. arizonensis compare to the young adult females