Mohammad Ahmad(1) Majeda Mohammed Mofleh(2) and Hiba Makhlouf*(3)
(1). Department of Plant protection, Faculty of Agriculture. Tishreen University, Latakian, Syria.
(2). General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR). Damascus, Syria.
(3). Scientific Agricultural Research Center in Latakian, (GCSAR). Damascus, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Eng. Hiba Makhlouf. E-Mail: hibalim87@gmail.com).
Received: 04/07/2017 Accepted: 17/09/2017
Abstract
The effect of temperature on the development of the predator Hippodamia variegata (Coleoptera:Coccinellidae) reared on the green peach aphid Myzus persicae Sulzer (Homoptera:Aphididae) was determined at five constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30 and 35)°C under laboratory conditions. The present study was conducted at Latakia Agricultural Research Center during 2015 and 2016. This study aimed to determine the impact of temperature on the development of the predator H. variegata to identify the suitable temperature for rearing this predator. The duration (days) and survival (%) were measured for this predator. Results showed that temperature had a significant effect on the development of H. variegata immature stages, whereas the development time from larvae to adult decreased with increasing temperature at thermal range (15-35)°C. The longest larval developmental duration was 24.84 days at 15°C, and the shortest duration was 4 days at 35°C. Also, the shortest pupal duration was one day at 35°C and the longest period was 9.84 days at 15°C. The lowest developmental time from eggs hatching to emergence of adults was 6 days at 35°C, while the longest developmental time was 36.84 days at 15°C. Also the ratio of larval survival was affected by temperature, this ratio was (26%, 52%, 77%, 34%, 4%) at (15, 20, 25, 30 and 35)°C respectively. The results of statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences between the five constant temperatures in all studied biological characteristics, and the temperature 25°C was suitable for a successful rearing of the predator H. variegata.
Key Words: Natural enemies, Hippodamia variegata, Myzus persicae, Life cycle, Survival, Coccinellidae, Aphididae.
Full paper in Arabic: PDF