Age-dependent fecundity and life-fertility tables for Euborellia annulipes (Lucas) (Dermaptera: Anisolabididae) a cotton boll weevil predator in laboratory studies with an artificial diet

Abstract

Little information regarding the biology and ecology of dermapteran predators has been reported. For possible use of Euborellia annulipes (Lucas) (Anisolabididae) in biological control programs against the cotton boll weevil Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman (Curculionidae), it is important to know the effect of temperature on reproduction in this predator. Our objective was to evaluate the reproductive potential and the longevity of females of E. annulipes under laboratory conditions using an artificial diet, at 25 and 30°C, and to estimate life-fertility tables and growth rates. Fecundity began to decline on day 84 at 25°C and on day 74 at 30°C of adult age and ended with the death of the females at both temperatures. Females of E. annulipes oviposited an average of 206 and 306 eggs, and had a mean longevity of 198 and 149 d at 25 and 30°C, respectively. The gross reproductive rates were 89.2 at 25°C and 91.4 at 30°C; the net reproductive rates were 65.3 at 25°C and 40.3 at 30°C; the generation times were 195.2 d at 25°C and 142.9 d at 30°C; the doubling time was 33.0 d at 25°C and 26.7 d at 30°C; the intrinsic rates of increase were 0.02 at 25°C and 0.03 at 30°C, and the finite rates of increase were 1.02 at 25°C and 1.03 at 30°C. The predator population increased by 52 at 25°C and 20 at 30°C adult progeny per female per generation in the laboratory. The best age for inoculative releases of E. annulipes against cotton boll weevil populations is the age with the highest age-specific reproductive values, that is, newly emerged females at 25 or 30°C.