Hippodamia Convergens: Ecological and Biological Studies

This study aimed to investigate the population fluctuations of aphids and their associated predators in alfalfa, faba bean, cantaloupe and apricot trees at Ismailia Governorate, Egypt. Obviously, Hippodamia convergens Guerin-Meneville was the dominant predator associated with aphid infestations on all studied crops. In biological studies, data indicated that temperature had a significant influence on the development, feeding consumption, immature survival, adult longevity, ovipositional periods, and fecundity of Hippodamia convergens. Moreover, prey type affected development, feeding consumption, immature survival. The tested preys also affected survival, ovipositional periods, fecundity, adult longevity and the total consumed preys by adult stage. Data further indicated that females that mated three times showed higher fecundity and longer longevity and ovipositional period than those mated once or twice.