Life table parameters of Streblote siva (Lefebvre) on two host plants under laboratory conditions

Streblote siva (Lefebvre) (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) is one of the important potential pest of Conocarpus erectus L., Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Willd. and Acacia ampliceps Maslin at Bushehr, Khuzestan and Hormozgan provinces. The life table parameters of S. siva was studied on C. erectus and Z. spina-christi based on the age-stage, two-sex life table at 27±2 ºC, 65±5% RH, and a photoperiod of 12:12 (L:D) h under laboratory conditions using TWO SEX-MS Chart program. The mean and standard errors of the life table parameters were estimated using paired bootstrap method with 200,000 bootstraps. Results showed that S. siva completed its development on every two hosts. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) of S. siva on C. erectus and Z. spina-christi was 0.081 and 0.068 d-1. The finite rate of increase (λ) revealed that the population of S. siva increased as 1.08 and 1.06 times per day on C. erectus and Z. spina-christi, respectively. The mean generation time (T) was 56.24 and 62.74 days on C. erectus and Z. spina-christi, respectively and this difference was statistically significant. The net reproductive rate (R0) of S. siva was 94.83 and 62.93 offspring, respectively. According to the results, it seems that C. erectus is a more suitable host plant for this pest.