Department of Entomology, Science and Research Campus of Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
J Insect Sci. 2010;10:120. doi: 10.1673/031.010.12001.
Clitostethus arcuatus (Rossi) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is considered as one of the most important natural biological control agents of the ash whitefly, Siphoninus phillyreae (Haliday) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Iran. In the current survey, the development, survival, longevity, fecundity, feeding behaviour, and population dynamics of the predator under laboratory and field conditions were studied. The longevity of female insects was significantly longer than that of males. Total feeding of 4th larval instars and females was significantly higher than males and other larval instars. The overall mortality rate from egg to adult under laboratory conditions was 22.7% while under field conditions it was 38.2%. Copulation lasted approximately 67 minutes while the average pre-mating and pre-oviposition times recorded were 3.8 and 1.8 days, respectively. The mean number of eggs laid by each female was 181. The adults could survive starvation for 4 days with a normal longevity of 62-73 days. The maximum population density of the predator was recorded in late August that coincided with the decline of the S. phillyreae population. C. arcuatus had four generations per year, and the adults were observed until mid December. Possible application of C. arcuatus for biological control of S. phillyreae in integrated pest management programs is discussed.
弯六斑月瓢虫 (Rossi) (鞘翅目：瓢虫科) 被认为是伊朗榆白蜡蚜 (Siphoninus phillyreae (Haliday)) 的最重要的天然生物防治剂之一。在本次调查中，研究了该捕食者在实验室和野外条件下的发育、存活、寿命、繁殖力、取食行为和种群动态。雌性昆虫的寿命明显长于雄性。第 4 龄幼虫和雌性的总取食量明显高于雄性和其他龄期幼虫。在实验室条件下，从卵到成虫的总死亡率为 22.7%，而在野外条件下为 38.2%。交配持续约 67 分钟，而记录的平均交配前和产卵前时间分别为 3.8 和 1.8 天。每个雌虫平均产卵 181 个。成虫在饥饿状态下可存活 4 天，正常寿命为 62-73 天。捕食者的最大种群密度出现在 8 月下旬，与 S. phillyreae 种群的下降相吻合。弯六斑月瓢虫每年有四代，成虫一直观察到 12 月中旬。讨论了将弯六斑月瓢虫应用于综合虫害管理计划中防治榆白蜡蚜的可能性。
