Biological characteristics of Serangium xinpingensis Huang & Wang 2024 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Serangium xinpingensis Huang &Wang is a new natural enemy ladybird of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) found in dry-hot valley areas of Yunnan Province. This study determined the biological characteristics of S. xinpingensis to provide a theoretical basis for the control of B. tabaci.

The morphological characteristics, development duration and fecundity of S. xinpingensis were observed under the condition of (26 ± 1) ℃, RH (75 ± 5) % and L∶D = 14∶ 10, and the life table parameters of S. xinpingensis were compiled.

The result showed that the average developmental duration of the S. xinpingensis feeding on the 4^th nymphs of B. tabaci were 15.14 d, and the pre-oviposition period were 4.57 d, and the fecundity per female were 862.5 eggs, and the adult longevity were 67.05 d. The net reproductive rate R₀ of S. xinpingensis population were 189.5224, the generation time T were 73.4263 d, and the intrinsic rate of increase r_m were 0.0714, and the finite rate of increase λ were 1.0740.

S. xinpingensis takes a period of complementary nutrition to reach sex maturation after emergence. The average daily amount of eggs fluctuated significantly after S. xinpingensis began to lay eggs, the period of reproduction reached the first peak on the 15^th day, the peak time was 3~4 days, and then reached the second peak on the 42^nd day, and finally the number of eggs fluctuated down and came to end on the 130^th day. The survival rate of S. xinpingensis increased day by day before it entered the peak of fecundity, and then decreased slowly. It has a long adult life, a large number of eggs, and a short generation cycle, which has a high potential of pest control.