References on Mango

Awadalla H. S. S.

Author Affiliation: Economic Entomology Dep. Faculty of Agriculture, Damietta University, Damietta, Egypt.
Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control 25 : 153-156

Abstract : Effect of prey quality obtained from several host plants on some biological characteristics of the coccinellid predator Rodolia cardinalis Mulsant was studied under laboratory conditions. Total developmental periods of immature stages of R. cardinalis were (23.1±0.55), (23.2±0.54), (24.2±0.52), (24.2±0.56), (24.1±0.54), and (24.0±0.49) on the prey, Icerya seychellarum (Westood), fed on different host plants; ornamental palm, persimmon, mango, pomegranate, loquat, and ficus, respectively. Survival rate for immature stages of the predator was highest (82%) on ornamental palm and lowest (72%) on pomegranate. Based on the survival rate for predator as an index of prey suitability, the quality of host plant for prey-predator trophic interactions in decreasing order was as follows: ornamental palm, persimmon, ficus, mango, loquat and pomegranate. There were significant differences among females of R. cardinalis in total number of eggs produced after feeding on I. seychellarum harbored different host plants. Highest number of eggs laid by a single female predator was 263.8±19.6 eggs on ornamental palm, while the lowest was 166.3±19.9 eggs on pomegranate. Adult female longevity of R. cardinalis ranged between 22.7±1.94 and 23.0±2.27 days on I. seychellarum fed on persimmon and ficus plants, respectively. While, the adult male longevity ranged between 16.2±3.10 and 16.9±2.28 days on loquat and persimmon trees, respectively. Chemical analysis of preys revealed that I. seychellarum on the ornamental palm had higher nutritional values of protein, fats, and lipids than those of other host plants, resulted in shorter developmental time, higher survival rate, and higher reproductive rate of R. cardinlis when consumed I. seychellarum on those host plants.