Effects of feeding from different hosts on biological parameters of the lady beetle Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) in the laboratory conditions

Abstract: Lady beetle Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) is one of the predators on aphids that have a significant role in their biological control. Despite the importance of these efficient predators, limited study has been done on the effect of different hosts on the biology of this lady beetle in Iran. In this study, the biological parameters of lady beetle H. variegata feeding 2 different prey species, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Macrosiphum rosae (L) in 35 ± 1° C with relative humidity of %65 ± 5, photoperiod of 14 hours light and 10 hours of darkness were studied. The results of the nutrition and quality impact on growth various parameters in lady beetle showed that M. rosae and M. persicae, although in feeding rates was significant difference, and Adonia feed green peach aphid more than rose aphid, but ultimately there was no significant difference between the growth term, rate of laying, the laying period and survival and the periods of growth and development in both the bait was completed at a temperature 35 ° C, and the females with high laying and life period had good laying and both aphid were perfect hosts for the above lady beetle