| Sycanus croceovittatus is an important natural enemy insect that can prey on a variety of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera pests, and has good potential for biocontrol development. In order to select suitable hosts for indoor expansion of S. croceovittatus, this study investigated that the developmental period, survival rate, fecundity and population parameters, as well as the size of each state of S. croceovittatus feeding on Tenebrio molitor pupae by using age-stage two-sex life table under indoor conditions, the population dynamics were also predicted, which provided support for indoor propagation technology. The results showed that the average developmental durations of S. croceovittatus eggs and 1st to 5th instars were 20.00, 14.75, 13.40, 11.67, 12.76 and 21.25 d, respectively, and the average longevity of female and male adults were 54.75 and 49.50 d, respectively, at room temperature of 23±2. The intrinsic rate of increase r, finite rate of increase λ, net reproductive rate R0 and mean generation period T were 0.039 d-1, 1.040 d-1, 115.361 eggs/female and 121.909 d, respectively. The body weights, lengths, and widths of the female adults were significantly higher than those of the male adults, and the female adults were capable of laying eggs whether they were mated or not, and reproductive parameters such as spawning times, single fecundity and total fecundity of mated females were significantly higher than those of unmated female adults, the hatching rate of eggs laid by female adults after mating was 92.59%, but eggs laid by unmated female adults were invalid and could not hatch. The positive growth and good individual development of the S. croceovittatus population established by rearing T. molitor pupae indicate that T. molitor is feasible as an alternative prey for breeding S. croceovittatus on a large scale. |
