Life history and life table analysis of the predator Hyperaspis polita (Coccinellidae) on the mealybug Nipaecoccus viridis (Pseudococcidae)

The ladybird Hyperaspis polita (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) occurs in the coastal areas of East Mediterranean and dry lands in southwest Asia. It is one of the important predatory coccinellids in southern Iran including Khuzestan Province. In this study, we examined life history traits and life table parameters of H. polita fed on the important citrus pest Nipaecoccus viridis (Pseudococcidae) in the laboratory, using the age-stage, two-sex life table. Experiments were performed under controlled conditions (25 and 30 ± 1 °C, 65 ± 5% RH and 14:10 h, L: D). Total preadult developmental period was significantly shorter at 30 (30.5 d (days) males, 30.1 d females) compared to 25 °C (40.0 d males, 40.4 d females). The oviposition period was not significantly different at both examined temperatures. However, the mean female fecundity for the total life span ranged from 180 to 368 eggs at 25 and 30 °C, respectively. The values for the intrinsic rate of increase ( r = 0.089 d −1 ), finite rate of increase (λ = 1.093 d −1 ), and net reproductive rate ( R 0 = 102.6) were higher at 30 °C. On the other hand, the mean generation time ( T ) was shorter for the cohort reared at 30 (51.9 d) than at 25 °C (86.2 d). When literature on H. polita is considered, we suggest N. viridis as suitable host species for efficient mass-rearing of H. polita in the insectary in Khuzestan.