Biology of Coccinella septempunctata L. and its predatory potential on Macrosiphum rosae L. in Kastamonu

Abstract: This study has been done in order to determine the Aphihidae family member pests' natural enemy C. septempunctata L.'s, biology and the larval stage predatory potential on Macrosiphum rosae L. For the first time with this research, M. rosae in Kastamonu region took place in literature. The reproduction of Coccinella septempunctata L. in Kastamonu region has been conducted by using storage containers of various sizes, at average temperature of 21.3±4.00 ºC and % 78.8±9.44 of relative humidity conditions. In Kastamonu region; the first flight activities of C. septempunctata L. -in third week of April in 2014- occurred at 13,63±1,93 0C temperature and relative humidity of % 8,37±2,18. At 21.3±4.00 ºC of average temperature and relative humidity of %78.8±9.44, the incubation period of 5.33±0.81 days, first, second, third and the fourth stages of larval period by order; 4.00±0.89, 3.83±0.40, 4.17±0.75 and 5.17±0.75 days, the number of days of pupal incubation period as; 5.00±0.63 days, and the total larval state as 17.16±1.94 days has been determined. At 21.3±4.00 ºC of average temperature and relative humidity of %78.8±9.44, Coccinella septempunctata L.'s consumption amount of M. rosae during the first, second, third and fourth larval stages, were recorded as 20.3, 54.3, 108.2 and 232.7 by order. According to these results, the varied amounts of Aphid consumption of Coccinella septempunctata L. during the larval stage, which has been determined in literature, is consistent with the study of M. rosae in Kastamonu region. As a conclusion of this study, it has been determined that, Coccinella septempunctata L. has an escalating predatory potential on M. rosae from the first larval stage to the fourth larval stage.