Developmental duration and predation rate of the coccidophagous coccinellid Rhyzobius lophanthae (Blaisdell) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on Aspidiotus nerii Bouche.

The consumption rate, survival, and developmental duration of the coccidophagous coccinellid Rhyzobius lophanthae (Blaisdell) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a predator of the armored scale insect, Aspidiotus nerii Bouche (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) were studied under laboratory conditions at two temperature regimes of 25 ± 1 and 30 ± 1°C, 50-65% RH, and 16L:8D. Developmental time (egg to adult) significantly decreased with increase in the temperature. It lasted 27.5 days at 25 ± 1°C and 21.3 days at 30 ± 1°C. The development threshold of R. lophanthae immature stages was 7.823°C, while the thermal constant was 472.379 degree-days. No mortality was recorded during the incubation period. The total mortality rate amongst the larval instars was with 3.33% at 25 ± 1°C and 6.77% at 30 ± 1°C. The sex ratio male to female was 1:1.06. The consumption rate significantly increased with increasing temperatures and within the larval instars. The four larval instar consumed 24.3 and 33.5 adults of A. nerii at 25 ± 1 and 30 ± 1°C, respectively. Overall, micro-climate temperature had a significant impact on the biological parameters of R. lophanthae.