The biology and preying abilities of ladybird beetle (Coccinella transversalis Fabricius) on Myzus persicae (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Abstract

The use of predators in biological control has been widely known to reduce pest populations. The research aim is to determine the biology and preying abilities ladybird beetle, a species of family Coccinellidae named Coccinella transversalis Fabricius which can be used to mass rearing on laboratory for augmentation and conservation purpose. This study directed at research facility at Methodist University of Indonesia with descriptive methods. Samples collecting from horticultural cultivation at Karo District, then kept in maintenance jar with substitute food and real food Myzuz persicae as standard mass rearing technique for the coccinellid. The results showed that egg incubation was 3.2±0.76 days. There are four instars of larval with lifetime 2.67±0.20 days, 2.87±0.26 days, 2.91±0.53 and 3.42±0.75 days respectively. Prepupae was 1.62±0.56 days and pupae was 3.11±0.81 days. Life period of female was 35.05±3.80 days and male 25.75±3.14 days. The female potential produce egg was 118.4±20.14 eggs and percentage of egg hatching 85.0±6.37%. The survival rate from larvae to imago was 48.8±5.84%, which means half of the larvae succeeded becoming an imago. Preying abilities for aphid at larva instar I until instar IV, female and male were 24.55±3.28, 44.55±6.63, 89.90±13.41, 174.50±27.7, 973.67±29.21 and 786.31±14.77 aphids respectively.