Age-Stage, Two-Sex Life Tables of Aphidius gifuensis (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Its Host Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Homoptera: Aphididae) with Mathematical Proof of the Relationship Between Female Fecundity and the Net Reproductive Rate

Abstract Life history data for Aphidius gifuensis (Ashmead) and Myzus persicae (Sulzer) were collected in the laboratory. To consider both sexes and variable developmental rates among individuals, the raw data were analyzed using the age-stage, two-sex life table. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) for A. gifuensis is 0.264 d−1. The mean parasitism rate is 92.3 aphids per female. The intrinsic rate of increase for M. persicae is 0.252 d−1. For applying the female age-specific life table to a female population, we prove that the relationship between the mean female fecundity (F) and the net reproductive rate (R0) is R0 = saF, where sa is the preadult survival rate. When the female age-specific life table is…

• NS
  National Science Council