Comparative life table of Aphis craccivora (Hem.: Aphididae) on host plant, Robinia pseudoacacia under natural and laboratory conditions

-The cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch, is an important pest of Robinia pseudoacacia Frisia. Life table parameters of A. craccivora were determined under natural (16- 33ºC and 32-89% RH, respectively) and laboratory (25 ± 1ºC, RH of 70 ± 5% and a photoperiod of 16:8 h (L: D) conditions. The data were analyzed using the age-stage, two-sex life table theory. Each experiment was replicated 45 times for each condition. There was significant differences between the survivorship, fecundity and longevity of the A. craccivora in laboratory and natural conditions. Under natural conditions, A. craccivora had a significant shorter nymphal developmental time, adult longevity and life span than those reared under laboratory conditions. However, the intrinsic rate of increase (r), net reproductive rate (R0), the finite rate of increase (λ) and gross reproductive rate (GRR) under laboratory conditions, were higher than those obtained in field, the higher mean generation time (T) was found in the field. All in all, the results of this study showed that two different conditions (field and laboratory) had significant influence on developmental times and life table parameters of A. craccivora and it is hard to escape the obvious conclusion that we must prevent the unsuitable extrapolation of laboratory results to field applications. The results obtained here, could also help us to understand the population dynamics of A. craccivora under field condition and to develop effective integrated pest management (IPM) programs

Larval age-specific searching efficiency of Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Dip.: Cecidomyiidae) preying on different densities of Aphis craccivora (Hem.: Aphididae)

Searching efficiency (a') (attack rate) and handling time are two major components of natural enemiesâ functional response and are usually used to evaluate their effectiveness. The age-specific searching efficiency of Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) was studied during its larval stage. The experiment was conducted in terms of age-specific functional response to the varying density (5, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80) of third instar nymphs of Aphis craccivora (Koch) at 23 ± 1 °C, 70 ± 5% R.H. and a photoperiod of 16: 8 h (L: D). Parameter estimates for logistic regressions showed a type III functional response at all larval ages to the varying density of A. craccivora. The age-specific handling times (Th) were estimated using Rogers random-attack equation, varied with the age of larval predator. The searching efficiency showed a similar and increasing trend at all predator larval ages. The estimated maximum rates of predation (T / Th) for the total larval stage were inversely related to prey density. It was concluded that A. aphidimyza, with type III functional response in all its larval stage, could be considered as a highly effective biological agent in suppressing and regulating A. craccivora population