Full Length Research Paper

Suitability of an artificial diet for rape aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae, using life table parameters

A. Balvasi¹*, G. R. Rassoulian¹, A. R. Bandani¹ and J. Khalghani²

¹Plant Protection Department, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.

²Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture, Iran.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: asiehbalvasi@yahoo.com Tel.: +989113392070.

Accepted 14 May, 2009

   Abstract

Experiments based on life tables are suitable for the understanding of the population dynamics of insects. In this work, suitability of an artificial diet was studied through age-specific life tables. Development, survival, reproduction rate and population growth parameters of the rape aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (Hom: Aphididae) were evaluated on leaf discs of Brassica oleracea, and a liquid artificial diet enclosed in parafilm sachets under incubator condition. Life parameters of 2 treatments were close to each other. The artificial diet that was used in this study had no significance differences in life table parameters compared with these parameters on leaf of B. oleracea. The results obtained in this study indicated that this artificial diet can be useful for rearing and other tests based on artificial diet.

Key words: Life table, artificial diet, Brevicoryne brassicae, survival, fecundity.