Age-Stage, Two-Sex Life Table of the Menochilus sexmaculatus (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera) Feeding on Different Aphid Species

Ladybird beetle, Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is biological control agent that predate the different aphid species. Both adults and larval stage of M. sexmaculatus feed on aphid species. In this experiment Life table and predation data were collected for M. sexmaculatus feed on four different aphid species Lipaphis erysimi, Myzus persicae, Aphis nerii and Diuraphis noxia. This experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions at 25±2°C, 60±5% RH and L14: D10 h. Different numbers of aphid were provided as a pray in petri dish. The pre-adult development duration of M. sexmaculatus was maximum when fed on M. persicae (12.18 d) and minimum on D. noxia (10.64 d). Similarly, male and female duration was maximum on M. persicae (26.7 d), minimum on L. erysimi (23.67 d) in male and in female maximum on D. noxia (28.00 d), minimum on A. nerii (24.33 d). Net reproductive rate (Ro) range from 117.9 on L. erysimi to 99.55 on M. persicae and intrinsic rate of increase (r) range was 0.21197 d-1 on A. nerii to 0.021559 d-1 on D. noxia. The finite rate of increase (λ) range was 1.240592 d-1 on D. noxia to 1.204918 d-1 on M. persicae, the mean of generation (T) range was 24.68 d-1 on M. persicae to 22.476 d-1 on A. nerii, similarly, the gross reproductive rate (GRR) range was 172.2 d-1 on D. noxia to 115.02 d-1 on M. persicae and Fecundity (F) eggs per female range was 316.8 on D. noxia to 199.1 on M. persicae. In present Study, age-stage two-sex life table gives complete understanding of predator biological aspects against different aphid species. This study will help us to improve mass rearing and use of M. sexmaculatus in biological control of aphids.