Life Table Parameters of Lysiphlebus testceipes Parasitoid on Toxoptera aurantia.

Abstract

The life table parameters of the parasitoid Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson, 1880) were investigated in the laboratory. The parasitoid was reared on the black citrus aphid Toxoptera aurantii (Boyer de Fonscolombe, 1841) at 20-25°C, relative humidity of 65±5%, and a photoperiod 8-16 hrs (dark:light) during the 2023-2024 season. The parameters were calculated using the TWOSEX-MSChart program. The results obtained indicated that the average total period of the immature stages were 14.08 days, and the average lifespan of the female and male were 19.8 and 18.88 days, respectively. Intrinsic rate of increase (r) and final rate of increase (λ) were 0.2283 females/female/day and 1.2564/day, respectively. Net reproductive rate (R0) was 41.66 females/female/generation. Gross reproductive rate (GRR) was 45.41 eggs/female, the mean generation time (T) was 16.335 days, and the doubling time (DT) was 3.04 days. This study helped in understanding the population changes of the parasitoid Lysiphlebus testaceipes for potential use in the integrated management of black citrus aphid.

Keywords:

Lysiphlebus testaceipes, Toxoptera aurantii, the black citrus aphid, life tables, Latakia, Syria.