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25 September 2020 Fitness and Predating Potential of Antilochus coquebertii (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae): A Predator of the Red Cotton Bug (Dysdercus koenigii)
Muhammad Sarmad, Waqar Jaleel, Syed Muhammad Zaka, Qamar Saeed, Faheem Azher, Muhammad Kashif Rabbani, Rana Muhammad Kaleem Ullah
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Abstract

Antilochus coquebertii is one of the most important predators of Dysdercus koenigii. The present study examines for the first time the fitness (using age-stage and two-sex life table parameters), morphometrics and predating potential of A. coquebertii fed on the second instar of D. koenigii under laboratory conditions. Results indicate that female adults of A. coquebertii consumed significantly higher numbers of second instar D. koenigii (229.81 ± 14.36) when compared to male adults (118.47 ± 10.77). The body length (16.10±0.40 mm) and width (6.60 ± 0.20 mm) of female adults of A. coquebertii were significantly higher if compared to body length (14.40 ± 0.40 mm) and width (5.80 ± 0.40 mm) of male adults. The developmental period of A. coquebertii from egg to female adult (76.09 ± 3.51 days) was significantly longer than egg to male adult (64.00 ± 1.87 days). The fecundity (number of eggs/female) of A. coquebertii was 108.67 ± 3.67 per female. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) per day of A. coquebertii were recorded with values of 5.87 and 1.06 days, respectively. The gross reproductive rate (GRR) and net reproductive rate (R0) of A. coquebertii were 23.17 offspring and 18.56 offspring/individual, respectively. The information obtained in this study will be useful for the development of future research projects focused on this predator against D. koenigii under natural conditions. Based on our results, we suggest that A. coquebertii will be a good biological control agent against the second instar of D. koenigii in cotton fields.

© 2019 Kansas Entomological Society
Muhammad Sarmad, Waqar Jaleel, Syed Muhammad Zaka, Qamar Saeed, Faheem Azher, Muhammad Kashif Rabbani, and Rana Muhammad Kaleem Ullah "Fitness and Predating Potential of Antilochus coquebertii (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae): A Predator of the Red Cotton Bug (Dysdercus koenigii)," Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 92(4), 589-601, (25 September 2020). https://doi.org/10.2317/0022-8567-92.4.589
Received: 14 March 2019; Accepted: 7 December 2019; Published: 25 September 2020
KEYWORDS
Antilochus coquebertii
Dysdercus koenigii
fitness
morphometric
predation
two-sex life table
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