Determination of predation capacity and life table parameters of Simosyriphus aegyptius (wiedemann), 1830 (Diptera: syrphidae) on mealy plum aphid [Hyalopterus pruni (geoffroy) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The larvae of individuals belonging to the Syrphidae family are fed with many species known as pest in agricultural production. This situation brings with they the use of biological weapons in the control against pests. In this study, predation capacity and life table parameters of Simosyriphus aegyptius (Wiedemann), 1830 (Diptera: Syrphidae) on Mealy plum aphid [Hyalopterus pruni (Geoffroy) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)] were estimated. The study was carried out in 2017 in a climatic room which was adjusted to 25 °C Temperature, 60 ± 10 % Relative Humidity and 16: 8 hours light-dark periods. The mean preadult period of S. aegyptius was 23.13 days, female individuals had a life time of 34.57 days and male individuals had a life time of 32.00 days. Preoviposition period (APOP) was calculated as 6.18 days, total preoviposition period (TPOP) was 21.86 days, oviposition period was 10.29 days, fecundity rate was 100.71 eggs and survival rate was 34 %. The life table parameters were estimated as follows: the intrinsic rate of increase (r) was 0.103 day-1, the finite rate of increase (λ) was 1.108 day-1, net reproductive rate (R0) was 15.00 eggs/generation and mean generation time (T) was 26.37 days. Pre-adult predation rate was found as 820.21 preys/predator and the highest predation rate was observed in the 3rd larval stage (545.64 preys/predator). Keywords: Hyalopterus pruni, Life table, Predation rate, Simosyriphus aegyptius.