Effect of temperature on food consumption of the black ladybird beetle Stethorus punctum, Leconte (Coleoptera: Coccinillidae) reared on the two- spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae under different constant temperatures

Abstract

Effect of temperature on consumption Food of the predator, Stethorus punctum Leconte reared on immature and mature stages of the prey, Tetranychus urticae (Koch) were studied at Agricultural University Peshawar and Agricultural Research Institute Mingora Swat, Pakistan during 2015. The effect of temperature on food consumption of S. punctum studied under laboratory conditions, at five different constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 oC). It was observed that the larval instars consumed more immature prey individuals at 15 oC, followed by 35 oC then 20, 25, and 30 oC. Adult males of the predator consumed more individuals of immature preys at 35 oC, followed by 30 oC then at 15, 20 and 25 oC, while the predator females relatively consumed more prey individuals than the males, at the same temperatures. When the larvae of the predator reared on mature stages of the prey, they consumed more prey individuals at 15 oC, followed by 20 oC then at 35 oC. The adult males and females of the predator consumed almost the same numbers of the prey individuals. They consumed the highest number of preys at 35 oC, followed by 30 oC, and while the lowest consumed number were recorded at 15 oC.