Biology of ladybird beetle, propylea sp. (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera) on Lucerne aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Aphididae: Hemiptera) under laboratory conditions

Abstract

Biology of ladybird beetle, Propylea sp. on Lucerne aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) was investigated under laboratory conditions. Biology of Propylea sp. on A. pisum revealed that mean incubation period of eggs was 2.66±0.48 days. The egg hatching percentage was 83.87±5.32 per cent. The total larval duration was 10.48±1.01 days; first, second, third and fourth instar durations were 1.64±0.48, 2.28±0.45, 3.06±0.31 and 3.50±0.51 days, respectively. The pre-pupal and pupal periods were 1.10±0.30 and 4.90±0.76 days, respectively. The adult emergence of Propylea sp. was 86.81±3.10 per cent. Mean longevity of male and female beetles were 31.10±2.70 and 35.46±2.62 days, respectively. The average pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition period were 8.01±0.89, 21.04±1.76 and 6.30±1.34 days, respectively. The fecundity of the female was 355.84±52.90 eggs/female. Total life cycle of Propylea sp. completed within 44.58±3.59 days by male and 46.42±4.64 days by female. The sex ratio of male: female was 1:1.40.