Two-Sex Life Table Analysis of the Predator Arma chinensis (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and the Prediction of Its Ability to Suppress Populations of Scopula subpunctaria (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

Kunqian Cao, Rongmeng Lan, Xiuju Yang, Bing Gong, Jingjing Zhang, Xia Zhou and Linhong Jin ()
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Kunqian Cao: National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
Rongmeng Lan: National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
Xiuju Yang: National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
Bing Gong: National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
Jingjing Zhang: National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
Xia Zhou: National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
Linhong Jin: National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-18

Abstract: Scopula subpunctaria (Herrich-Schaeffer) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) is a leaf-eating pest in tea plantations that often causes serious economic losses. Arma chinensis (Fallou) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) as a polyphagous insect has become one of the main biological control agents for tea plantation pests due to its wide feeding habit, predatory ability, and adaptability. However, studies related to the predation using A. chinensis on the third instar S. subpunctaria have not been reported. In this study, we used the age-stage, two-sex life table method to analyze the developmental duration and fecundity of S. subpunctaria fed on tea, and A. chinensis fed on third instar S. subpunctaria larvae, under a 25 °C regime. The growth, development, survival, fecundity, and predation rates of the insect populations were investigated. The results showed that the predator and the prey can complete their respective life histories, but the developmental durations at each stage were different, and the developmental stages overlapped significantly. In addition, we used the computer program TIMING-MSChart to project the stage structure and the total population size of A. chinensis and S. subpunctaria . We also simulated the population changes of S. subpunctaria using an A. chinensis intervention. These results showed that S. subpunctaria can support A. chinensis to finish its life history and A. chinensis has great potential to control S. subpunctaria . This study contributes to the understanding of the biological characteristics of S. subpunctaria and provides a theoretical basis for releasing A. chinensis in the field to suppress S. subpunctaria .

Keywords: Arma chinensis; Scopula subpunctaria; two-sex life table; biological control (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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