Effects of Three Artificial Diets on Life History Parameters of the Ladybird Beetle Stethorus gilvifrons, a Predator of Tetranychid Mites
by
and
Jafar Ebrahimifar
1, 
Parviz Shishehbor
1,
Arash Rasekh
1,
Seyed Ali Hemmati
1,* and
Eric W. Riddick
2
1
Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz 61357-43311, Iran
2
Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Insects 2020, 11(9), 579; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11090579
Submission received: 23 July 2020
/
Revised: 25 August 2020
/
Accepted: 26 August 2020
/
Published: 1 September 2020
(This article belongs to the Collection Natural Enemies and Biological Control of Plant Pests)
Simple Summary
The ladybird beetle Stethorus gilvifrons is an important natural enemy of spider mites, which are pests of numerous agricultural crops. Mass production of S. gilvifrons would be necessary to generate large numbers of individuals for augmentative biological control. Using alternative prey/foods or artificial diets as a substitute to natural prey (spider mites) would be important in the cost-effective production of S. gilvifrons. The objectives of the current study were to determine the developmental and reproductive characteristics of S. gilvifrons fed on different artificial diets. Artificial diets consisted of sucrose, honey, royal jelly, agar, yeast, date palm pollen supplemented with hen’s egg yolk (AD1, as basic diet), Ephestia kuehniella eggs (AD2), or E. kuehniella eggs and 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (AD3). Adults and larvae of S. gilvifrons performed best on AD3, indicating the potential of this artificial diet for mass rearing of this important predatory ladybird beetle.
Abstract
Background: The ladybird beetle Stethorus gilvifrons (Mulsant) is an important natural enemy of tetranychid mites and functions as a biological control of these plant pests. The development, survival and reproduction of S. gilvifrons were studied when fed on three artificial diets. The components of the artificial diet that S. gilvifrons could be reared successfully on for one generation with no use of tetranychid mites were examined. Methods: Artificial diets consisted of sucrose, honey, royal jelly, agar, yeast, date palm pollen supplemented in different diets with hen’s egg yolk (AD1, as basic diet), Ephestia kuehniella Zeller eggs (AD2), or E. kuehniella eggs and 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (AD3). Results: Adults and larvae of Stethorusgilvifrons fed on AD1 had a shorter immature development and preoviposition periods than those fed on AD2 and AD3. The total number of deposited eggs was significantly higher for the females fed on AD3 than on the other diets. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) of S. gilvifrons was highest on AD3, followed by AD2, and AD1. Conclusion: Stethorus gilvifrons performed best on AD3, indicating the potential of this artificial diet for the mass rearing of this important predatory ladybird beetle.
