BIOLOGY OF THE COCCINELLID PREDATOR, Clitostethus acuatus (ROSSI), IN WINTER , AS REARED ON EGG OF THE WHITE FLY , Bemisia tabaci

Khalifa, Amany A.; El-Husseini, M. M.

doi:10.21608/jppp.2015.75805

BIOLOGY OF THE COCCINELLID PREDATOR, Clitostethus acuatus (ROSSI), IN WINTER , AS REARED ON EGG OF THE WHITE FLY , Bemisia tabaci

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ plant protection Research Institute, Department of Biological control , Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt.

² Center of Biological control and IPM , Fac. of Agric, Cairo univ. Giza , Egypt

10.21608/jppp.2015.75805

Abstract

The predator, Clitostethus arcuatus (Rossi) is an efficient natural enemy against several homopterous insects. It overwinters under cold conditions as an adult .In this investigation , the diapausing predator turned into active by rearing under laboratory condations of 15-20 ْ C, and 59-80% R.H. At these conditions, incubation period lasted for 9.8 + 0.20 days, larval stage for 23.5 + 0.13 days, pupal stage for 8.3 + 0.05 days. Total development period took 40-49 days. Egg hatchability was quiet high ( 92 % ), and the sex ratio was 2 : 3 for the females and males, respectively. These results wuld be useful , if the mass-rearing of the predator was initated early in the season. Thus, the predator could be available as early as possible for biological control procedures .

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