Life table and biological studies of Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Col., Coccinellidae) reared on the grain moth eggs of Sitotroga cerealella Olivier (Lep., Gelechiidae)

The developmental period of immature stages, survival per cent, longevity, fecundity and life table parameters of Harmonia axyridis by feeding on fresh and frozen grain moth eggs (GME) of Sitotroga cerealella were studied under laboratory conditions. The effect of crowding adults on fecundity of females was also determined. The total developmental time from egg hatching to adult eclosion ranged from 18.89 +/- 0.32 to 22.5 +/- 0.21 days on fresh and frozen GME, respectively. Survival per cent from egg hatching to adult emergence differed significantly when the predator fed on the two diets of GME. Also, pupal and adult weights were affected by feeding on fresh and frozen GME. There were no significant differences in longevity of females, while there were significant variations in fecundity of females and longevity of males. The calculated values of T, DT, R-o, r(m), and e(rm) were high by feeding on fresh GME. Morever, rates of survivorship (Lx), and maximum oviposition per female per day (Mx) were higher when the predator was reared on fresh than on frozen GME. Crowding conditions of predator adults affected the fecundity of females due to egg cannibalism by both males and females of the predator.