Two-Sex Life Table Analysis of the Predator Arma chinensis (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and the Prediction of Its Ability to Suppress Populations of Scopula subpunctaria (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

Abstract

Scopula subpunctaria (Herrich-Schaeffer) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) is a leaf-eating pest in tea plantations that often causes serious economic losses. Arma chinensis (Fallou) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) as a polyphagous insect has become one of the main biological control agents for tea plantation pests due to its wide feeding habit, predatory ability, and adaptability. However, studies related to the predation using A. chinensis on the third instar S. subpunctaria have not been reported. In this study, we used the age-stage, two-sex life table method to analyze the developmental duration and fecundity of S. subpunctaria fed on tea, and A. chinensis fed on third instar S. subpunctaria larvae, under a 25 °C regime. The growth, development, survival, fecundity, and predation rates of the insect populations were investigated. The results showed that the predator and the prey can complete their respective life histories, but the developmental durations at each stage were different, and the developmental stages overlapped significantly. In addition, we used the computer program TIMING-MSChart to project the stage structure and the total population size of A. chinensis and S. subpunctaria. We also simulated the population changes of S. subpunctaria using an A. chinensis intervention. These results showed that S. subpunctaria can support A. chinensis to finish its life history and A. chinensis has great potential to control S. subpunctaria. This study contributes to the understanding of the biological characteristics of S. subpunctaria and provides a theoretical basis for releasing A. chinensis in the field to suppress S. subpunctaria.

Development and Metabolomic Profiles of Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) Larvae Exposed to Phytosanitary Irradiation Dose in Hypoxic Environment Using DI-SPME-GC/MS

“…The developmental progress of each individual was observed and recorded daily at 9:00 a.m. over a 2-week period. Figure 1 illustrates the processes adopted to achieve the aforementioned objectives [ 22 ].…”

Effects of visible light wavelength on development and demographic parameters of Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

“…The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of visible light wavelength on the developmental rate, reproduction and survival of P. persimilis and its population parametres like the net reproductive rate (R 0 ), the intrinsic rate of growth (r), the finite rate of growth (λ), and the average generation time (T) (Carey 2001) estimated by life tables analysis (Jones 2021). We used the agestage, two-sex life table approach (Chi 1988) which has been prefered method applied in recent studies on predators and parasitoids (Chi & Yang 2003;Yang et al 2021;Cao et al 2023;Pakyari & Reddy 2022;Pakyari & Atlihan 2023).…”

“…We used the age-stage, two-sex life table approach (Chi 1988) which has been prefered method applied in recent studies on predators and parasitoids (Chi & Yang 2003; Yang et al . 2021; Cao et al . 2023; Pakyari & Reddy 2022; Pakyari & Atlihan 2023).…”