Influence of host plant on growth and reproduction of Aphis nerii and feeding and prey utilization of its predator Menochilus sexmaculatus
Murugan, K.; Jeyabalan, D.; Kumar, N.S.; Nathan, S.S.; Sivaramakrishnan, S.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 38(6): 598-603
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5189 PMID: 11116532 Document Number: 517722
The influence of different physiological stages of Calotropis gigantea leaves (young, mature and senescent) on the growth and reproductive ability of A. nerii and feeding, prey utilization, fecundity and lipid content of its predator M. sexmaculatus was investigated. An increased reproductive period, total life span and reproduction of nymphs per female of A. nerii were observed when reared on mature leaves. This maximum utilization of mature leaves compared with other leaves is mainly due to changes in chemical composition (e.g. with respect to protein, carbohydrate, lipid, amino acid, nitrogen and phenolic compounds) of C. gigantea. Further, aphids reared on leaves of different stages influenced its predator's (M. sexmaculatus) growth, prey utilization and reproductive performance. Fecundity and longevity were high, while the developmental time of predators was shorter when feeding on aphids reared on mature leaves. Maximum prey utilization and increased efficiency of ingested and digested food of predator was observed on aphids reared on mature leaves. The results are interpreted and discussed in relation to plant aphid and predator interactions (tritrophic).