Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
J Econ Entomol. 2024 Jun 10;117(3):809-816. doi: 10.1093/jee/toae058.
In this study, we investigated the biological aspects and predation efficiency of 3 aphidophagous ladybird beetles, Coccinella novemnotata, Hippodamia variegata, and Coccinella septempunctata, on the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii, reared on cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L. cultivar barracuda) under laboratory conditions. The developmental periods of C. novemnotata, H. variegata, and C. septempunctata were observed to be 16.00 ± 0.25, 16.00 ± 0.25, and 20.58 ± 0.40 days, respectively. The larvae of these ladybird beetles consumed an average of 218.93 ± 8.86, 254.77 ± 8.86, and 537.36 ± 10.49 aphids, respectively. Fourth-instar larvae were particularly efficient, consuming 53.68%, 52.68%, and 52.64% of total aphids for C. novemnotata, H. variegata, and C. septempunctata, respectively. Adult emergence rates were promising, with 91.67%, 100.00%, and 92.86%, accompanied by sex ratios of 63.64%, 53.84%, and 61.54%, respectively. Notably, a single female of C. novemnotata, H. variegata, and C. septempunctata consumed an average of 2,215.30, 2,232.00, and 3,364.50 aphids, respectively, over its lifespan. Coccinella septempunctata demonstrated the highest predation efficiency among the 3 species, suggesting its potential for biological control of A. gossypii in both open fields and greenhouses, promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
在这项研究中，我们研究了 3 种捕食性瓢虫（异色瓢虫、多异瓢虫和七星瓢虫）在实验室条件下以黄瓜植株（barracuda 品种）上饲养的棉蚜为食的生物学特性和捕食效率。观察到异色瓢虫、多异瓢虫和七星瓢虫的发育周期分别为 16.00±0.25、16.00±0.25 和 20.58±0.40 天。这些瓢虫幼虫平均分别取食 218.93±8.86、254.77±8.86 和 537.36±10.49 头棉蚜。第四龄幼虫特别有效，分别取食异色瓢虫、多异瓢虫和七星瓢虫总蚜虫数的 53.68%、52.68%和 52.64%。成虫的出蜂率也很有前景，分别为 91.67%、100.00%和 92.86%，同时伴有雌雄比分别为 63.64%、53.84%和 61.54%。值得注意的是，一只异色瓢虫、多异瓢虫和七星瓢虫的雌成虫平均一生分别取食 2,215.30、2,232.00 和 3,364.50 头棉蚜。在 3 种物种中，七星瓢虫的捕食效率最高，表明其在大田和温室中对棉蚜具有潜在的生物控制作用，促进了可持续农业实践。
