Nonlinear models for describing development and fecundity of the pseudococcid predators Nephus includens and Nephus bisignatus

Abstract

Among several mathematical models used to describe the development or the fecundity of insects the equations of Enkegaard, Analytis, Bieri 1 and Bieri 2 could describe both biological features. In the current study these equations used to describe the development and fecundity of two pseudococcid predators [Nephus includens (Kirsch) ranged 0.8246-0.9704, 9.2729-24.0736 and (-246.82) -(-115.34) respectively]. Conclusively, from the tested models the Bieri-1 equation was proved as the most appropriate for the reason that could estimate correctly all the requested parameters concerning the development (T min , T opt , T max ) as well as it could describe sufficiently the fecundity trend of the two predators.

The effect of temperature on the development of Nephus includens (Kirsch) and Nephus bisignatus (Boheman) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), predators of Planococcus citri Risso (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae)

“…Tranfaglia and Viggiani (1972) found that the female laid 150.6 eggs and lived 74 days at 25-27°C preying on P. citri. Kontodimas (2003Kontodimas ( , 2004 studied the effect of temperature on many biological features of N. includens. The aver age total fecundity was 49.…”

Thermal Oviposition Performance of the Ladybird Stethorus gilvifrons Preying on Two-Spotted Spider Mites

“…Several non-linear models have been developed to describe the relationship between temperature and the developmental rate and/or fecundity of insects and mites [ 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 ]. Some of these models can be used for both developmental data and fecundity [ 41 ].…”

“…Several non-linear models have been developed to describe the relationship between temperature and the developmental rate and/or fecundity of insects and mites [ 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 ]. Some of these models can be used for both developmental data and fecundity [ 41 ]. Among these, we selected the following four non-linear models to describe the relationship between temperature and age-dependent fecundity of S. gilvifrons .…”

“…In previous studies [ 25 , 36 ], we assessed the effect of temperature on the life history of S. gilvifrons [ 25 ] and simulated the thermal developmental trajectories using linear and non-linear models [ 36 ]. Here we aimed at describing the thermal oviposition performance of S. gilvifrons by using four non-linear models [ 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ] and comparing their fit to experimentally observed fecundity data at six constant temperatures [ 25 ]. Such oviposition models can be used to simulate the daily, age-dependent egg production of this predator under variable temperature conditions, which can be utilized in predicting egg occurrence patterns, in developing S. gilvifrons population dynamics models, and in establishing effective biological control strategies for spider mites.…”

Effect of temperature on rate of development, survival and adult longevity of Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

“…The simplest model is a linear one which enables the prediction of the lower developmental threshold and thermal constant within limited ranges of temperatures (Campbell et al, 1974;Kontodimas et al, 2004;Shi et al, 2011;Brar et al, 2015). Nevertheless, for a more accurate description of the temperature dependence of mean developmental rates over a wide range of temperatures, there are several nonlinear models that enable us to estimate the optimum temperature for development and upper developmental threshold (Logan et al, 1974;Lactin et al, 1995;Brière et al, 1998;Kontodimas et al, 2004, Kontodimas, 2012.…”