Maternal Age Effects of Aspidiotus Nerii Bouche Bouche (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) on Potato

Abstract

Aspidiotus nerii Bouche (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) is an excellent host for rearing biological control agents for the control of scale insects. In this study, we investigated the maternal effect on the reproduction and development of A. nerii crawlers transferred to separate clean potato tubers at the 1st, 15th and 30th days. After the crawlers settled, each potato was divided into 4 cm(2) cells surface area surrounded by 'stickem special' to prevent their escape. When all crawlers in the cell became adults, one female and all the males were left in the cells, and the rest of the females were removed. Experiments were done at 25 degrees C, 16:8 hours and 65% relative humidity in a climate chamber. Cells were observed daily and crawlers were removed after counting. Variance analysis and Tukey's multiple range tests were applied for statistical analysis. Life table parameters were also calculated. Intrinsic rate of increase (r(m)), net reproductive rate (R-o), and mean generation time (T-o) were 0.073, 0.072 and 0.034 females/female/day, 83.42, 27.95 and 5.47 females/female, 60.56, 46.11 and 49.56 days, respectively. The total crawler numbers were the 1st, 15th and 30th days age females were 208.57, 81.32 and 20.07 crawlers, respectively. These results clearly show that age does have a significant effect on crawler of females A. nerii.