Life Table Analysis ofPropylea quatuordecimpunctata(Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) at Constant Temperatures

A life table analysis of the 14-spotted ladybird beetle, Propylea quatuordecimpunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), reared on bean aphid, Aphis fabae Scopoli (Hemiptera: Aphididae), was conducted at four constant temperatures (17, 20, 25, and 30 ± 1°C). A temperature dependence in the coccinellid's net reproductive rate, intrinsic rate of increase, finite rate of increase, mean generation time, and doubling time was detected. Estimated values of intrinsic rate of increase were 0.065, 0.095, 0.166, and 0.190 females per female per day at 17, 20, 25, and 30°C, respectively, where Lactin model indicated that the maximum value is achieved at 29.23°C. Females of ≈75, 50, 45, and 20 d old reach their maximum reproductive potential at 17, 20, 25, and 30 ± °C, respectively. In addition, temperature affected the risk of death of immature and female adults, as the survival curves at the examined temperatures were significantly different. The mean survival times decreased from 19.9 to 8.0 d and 123.1 to 33.5 d from 17 to 30°C for entire immature stages and female adults, respectively.