Biology and Predation of Stethorus punctillum Weise (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) feeding on Tetranychus urticae Koch

Abstract

The duration of hatching, larval instars and pupal stages of Stethorus punctillum feeding on two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae were investigated in different seasons under laboratory conditions. The highest values of different developmental stages were obtained during winter. Higher temperature significantly reduced the duration of different developmental stages. No significant effect of relative humidity was exerted on the development stages of S. punctillum. The predation rate of fourth instar larva of S. punctillum was the highest whereas the first instar larva consumed the lowest number of prey. The fourth instar larva of the predator consumed 135.8 eggs, 126.4 larvae, 96.6 nymphs and 72.8 adults per day separately. But the first instar consumed 41.6 eggs, 36.2 larvae, 26.8 nymphs and 16.8 adults during the same period. Keywords: Developmental durations, predation, Tetranychus urticae, Stethorus punctillum   doi: 10.3329/jbs.v15i0.2196 J. bio-sci. 15: 1-5, 2007