A Laboratory study was conducted during 2010 on the biology of seed beetles: Callosobruchus chinensis, C. maculatus and C. analis (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) on lentil seeds for the first specie and chickpea seeds for the last two species. These beetles
completed 10, 8 and 5 generations respectively when they were active (from March to November for the first and second species and from April to October for the third species ). C. maculatus laid an average of 100.29 ± 18.26 eggs over a period of 11.14 ± 0.64 days, C. chinensis laid 83.29 ± 6.32 eggs over 6.43 ± 0.49 days and C. analis 75.29 ± 9.05 eggs over 6.71 ± 0.70 days. The total development process from egg to adult takes an average of 25.87 ± 3.29, 31.43 ± 5.09 and 35.36 ± 3.49 days respectively for species under the ambient laboratory conditions. There was no difference in the development time between males and females except for C. maculatus, where the male emerged about twelve hours before the female. Sex ratio (male: female) was more in favour of female than male in C. chinensis (1: 1.1) and more in favour of male than female in C. maculatus (1.1: 1), but equal in C. analis (1: 1).
The parasite wasp Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard, 1881) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) could be considered the first recorded on C. maculatus in Syria.
This study was conducted on predator Coccinella septempunctata at laboratory
conditions , under average of temperature 20± 2Cº.
Results confirmed: Average of life cycle time was :27.3±4.1 days ( egg development
time 6.5±0.5 , larvae 13.2±0.5 , pup
a 7.5±0.5 days).Also the study of predation efficiency
showed that the average number of aphids consumed by each of the four instars larvae
were (57.9±10.6 , 63.7±9.4 , 66.5±8.3 , and 348±43.4) respectively. Therefore the fourth
larva instar seemed more predation efficiency, as compared to other three instars ,it
consumed double that the three instars consumed, but adult consumed 121±4.5 number
of aphids in one day.
A laboratory study was conducted on the parasitoid Citrostichus phyllocnistoides
Narayanan (Eulophidae : Hymenoptera)under average of temperature (18.12± 2.12 Cº)
with Temperature range from 15-23Cº. The final results oflaboratory study indicated t
hat
parasitoid was passed four stages to complete life cycle. The average development time
was: 3.7±0.9 days for eggs – 7.8±0.9 days for larvae,(the time required from the eggs to
hatch and continued untilthelarvae enter the pupal stage 6-10 days) , and12.7±1.03 days for
pupa (the time required from the beginning of pupation to emergence of adult 11-14 days).
The parasitoid needs in average23.3±2.7 days to complete its life cycle. Male longevity
3.8±0.8 days , and female 4.2±0.9 days.
Some biological parameters of the parasitoid, Encyrtus aurantii (Geoffroy)
(Hymenoptera : Encyrtidae) were studied under controlled laboratory conditions at five
levels of temperature 18, 21, 24, 27, and 30 °C, 65±5% R.H. and a photoperiod of 16:8
(L:D) h when reared on Brown soft scale Coccus hesperidum L. (Homoptera: Coccidae)
reared on Pumpkin Cucurbita moschata during the season 2010- 2011 . Result showed that
the longer developmental period from egg to pupa was on 18 °C with an average of 24.25
days, and the lower developmental period was on 30°C with an average of 8.25 days. The
longer developmental period from pupa to adult was on 18 °C with an average of 10.75
days, and the lower period was on 30 °C with an average of 5.5 days. The lower
developmental threshold (LDT) from egg to pupa was 15.83°C, and 14.34°C from pupa to
adult. E. aurantii required a Sum of Effective Temperatures (SET) of 122.74 degree-days
above the lower developmental threshold (16.95 °C) to complete the development from
egg to adult.
A biological study of Phytomyza orobanchia Kalt on branched broomrape
(Orobanche ramosa L.) which infest tomato crop, in the coastal region of Syria, was
conducted during 2011/2012 growing season. It included a study of some biological
parameters:
The preoviposition, oviposition, post oviposition, total number of eggs laid
per female, and total developmental period, at 25 ± 1ºc, 30 ± 1ºc and 70±5% RH. The
results showed that the fertilized females insert their eggs singly in the flowers (seed
capsules) and sometimes in the shoots of O. ramosa. The average of the total number of
eggs per female was 12.90 ± 5.41, 13.50 ± 7.53 at 25 ± 1ºc, 30 ± 1ºc, respectively,
without significant differences. The preoviposition period was 3.60 ± 0.79 day at 25 ±
1ºc, and decreased to 1.90 ± 0.32 day at 30 ± 1ºc with significant differences. The
average values of other biological parameters (oviposition, post oviposition) were higher
at 25 ± 1ºc, without significant differences. This insect has three larval instars, and the
larvae complete its development and pupate inside seed capsules. the developmental
period of pupa for female was shorter than pupa for male, and the total developmental
period of P. orobanchia occupied 18.5 ± 3.49, 17.75 ± 2.99 day for male, and 17.7 ±
2.93, 16.7± 2.6 day for female at 25 ±1ºc, 30±1ºc respectively.
