as an optimum temperature for mass production of this species was recommended
(Mortazavi Malekshah et al. 2015).
Apart from H. variegata and C. septempunctata, life table and population parameters of other ladybird species have been studied. Two-spotted lady beetle, Adalia
bipunctata is one of efficient species against different aphids, especially in orchards.
The reproduction parameters of this predator was evaluated against A. punicae
(Dehghan Dehnavi et al. 2008). Based on developmental time, immature survival
and life table parameters of A. bipunctata revelierei Mulsant E. kuehniella eggs was
the inferior diet compared to green peach aphid and pistachio psylla (Table 2.2)
(Mehrnejad et al. 2015). Meanwhile, it has been suggested that A. pistaciae was an
essential prey for A. bipunctata and this lady beetle could be used as a biocontrol candidate against pistachio psylla. Emami et al. (1998) showed that the total and
daily fecundity of Scymnus syriacus increased linearly with temperature. Another
Coccinellid which is well studied relatively is O. conglobata. Mojib Hagh Ghadam
et al. (2002a) in surveying the effect of three different aphid species on laboratory
biology of O. conglobata suggested the positive impact of suitable prey on predator
and prey populations. Additionally, they reported the least preimaginal development
rate, highest total fecundities and ovipositional duration of O. conglobata feeding
upon poplar shoot aphid (Chaitophorus populeti (Panz)) at 30
C among three
distinct temperatures (20, 25 and 30
C) tested (Mojib Hagh Ghadam et al.
2002b). The degree-day of this species was recorded as 217.3 DD. They also studied
the biology of this species on Timocallis saltans (Nev) (Mojib Hagh Ghadam et al.
2002c). Poplar aphid, Chaitophorus leucomelas (Koch) was another aphid that
serves as prey to study the laboratory biology of O. conglobata. The highest
mortality was occurred at the egg stage and afterward, the mortality has been
reduced. They also showed that fourth instar larvae was the most voracious stage
in terms of daily feeding rate (Sadeghi et al. 2004). Most studies of ecology and
predation rate of O. conglobata have been done in Rafsanjan region (Kerman
province), the main center of pistachio and pomegranate production of Iran, where
this species is one of the most dominant predators of pomegranate aphid (Aphis
punicae Pass) and pistachio psylla. As one of the earliest study, they estimated
descriptive biological parameters, prey preference and consumption rates of
O. conglobata on pistachio psylla, confirmed the superiority of pistachio psylla
than cotton aphid for development and reproduction of this species, however, it
should be considered the cotton aphid as an alternative prey when pistachio psylla is
unavailable (Mehrnejad and Jalali 2004). This study suggested that besides aphids,
O. conglobata could be considered as a main predator of other target pests like
psyllids. In this regard, the life table output of this predator showed the possible
efficiency of O. conglobata contaminata to bring pomegranate green aphid under
control (Table 2.2) (Rounagh and Samih 2014). The biology and consumption rate
of O. conglobata on Rhopalosiphum padi, Macrosiphum rosae and C. populi
showed that feeding of R. padi increased fecundity of O. conglobata significantly
(Ajam Hassani 2015). The effect of three diets including pistachio psylla, cotton
aphid and Meditteranean flour moth eggs on life table parameters and fitness of
O. conglobata and Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius, 1781) showed the best
50
H. Madadi
(Mortazavi Malekshah et al. 2015).
Apart from H. variegata and C. septempunctata, life table and population parameters of other ladybird species have been studied. Two-spotted lady beetle, Adalia
bipunctata is one of efficient species against different aphids, especially in orchards.
The reproduction parameters of this predator was evaluated against A. punicae
(Dehghan Dehnavi et al. 2008). Based on developmental time, immature survival
and life table parameters of A. bipunctata revelierei Mulsant E. kuehniella eggs was
the inferior diet compared to green peach aphid and pistachio psylla (Table 2.2)
(Mehrnejad et al. 2015). Meanwhile, it has been suggested that A. pistaciae was an
essential prey for A. bipunctata and this lady beetle could be used as a biocontrol candidate against pistachio psylla. Emami et al. (1998) showed that the total and
daily fecundity of Scymnus syriacus increased linearly with temperature. Another
Coccinellid which is well studied relatively is O. conglobata. Mojib Hagh Ghadam
et al. (2002a) in surveying the effect of three different aphid species on laboratory
biology of O. conglobata suggested the positive impact of suitable prey on predator
and prey populations. Additionally, they reported the least preimaginal development
rate, highest total fecundities and ovipositional duration of O. conglobata feeding
upon poplar shoot aphid (Chaitophorus populeti (Panz)) at 30
C among three
distinct temperatures (20, 25 and 30
C) tested (Mojib Hagh Ghadam et al.
2002b). The degree-day of this species was recorded as 217.3 DD. They also studied
the biology of this species on Timocallis saltans (Nev) (Mojib Hagh Ghadam et al.
2002c). Poplar aphid, Chaitophorus leucomelas (Koch) was another aphid that
serves as prey to study the laboratory biology of O. conglobata. The highest
mortality was occurred at the egg stage and afterward, the mortality has been
reduced. They also showed that fourth instar larvae was the most voracious stage
in terms of daily feeding rate (Sadeghi et al. 2004). Most studies of ecology and
predation rate of O. conglobata have been done in Rafsanjan region (Kerman
province), the main center of pistachio and pomegranate production of Iran, where
this species is one of the most dominant predators of pomegranate aphid (Aphis
punicae Pass) and pistachio psylla. As one of the earliest study, they estimated
descriptive biological parameters, prey preference and consumption rates of
O. conglobata on pistachio psylla, confirmed the superiority of pistachio psylla
than cotton aphid for development and reproduction of this species, however, it
should be considered the cotton aphid as an alternative prey when pistachio psylla is
unavailable (Mehrnejad and Jalali 2004). This study suggested that besides aphids,
O. conglobata could be considered as a main predator of other target pests like
psyllids. In this regard, the life table output of this predator showed the possible
efficiency of O. conglobata contaminata to bring pomegranate green aphid under
control (Table 2.2) (Rounagh and Samih 2014). The biology and consumption rate
of O. conglobata on Rhopalosiphum padi, Macrosiphum rosae and C. populi
showed that feeding of R. padi increased fecundity of O. conglobata significantly
(Ajam Hassani 2015). The effect of three diets including pistachio psylla, cotton
aphid and Meditteranean flour moth eggs on life table parameters and fitness of
O. conglobata and Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius, 1781) showed the best
50
H. Madadi