Reproductive and Population Parameters of Empoasca Decipiens Paoli (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) on Different Host Plants

Knowing the reproductive and population parameters (life table parameters) of a particular insect pest is very essential to develop integrated pest management strategy for this insect pest. In this study, life table parameters of the leafhopper, Empoasca decipiens (Paoli) (Hemiptera - Cicadellidae) were calculated on four different host plants viz., potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) and zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo L.). The results showed that, the net reproduction rates were 18.77, 38.3, 30.63 and 27.27 offspring/ female / generation on cotton, common bean, potato and zucchini squash, respectively. The intrinsic rates of increase (rm) were 0.15, 0.19, 0.149 and 0.186 female-1 day-1 with finite rates of increase of 1.16, 1.21, 1.16 and 1.21 females / female / day on cotton, common bean, potato and zucchini squash, respectively. The values of both of mean generation time and corrected generation time were highest for leafhopper insect reared on potato plant compared with those which reared on other three host plants. While the require times to duplicate the population (TD) were 4.6041, 3.6597, 4.661 and 3.727 days on cotton, common bean, potato and zucchini squash, respectively. The annual rates of increase of E. decipiens were obtained as 7.28x1023, 1.05x1030, 3.71x1023 and 3.03x1029 and it further reveal that the population would multiply 23, 30, 23 and 29 times in a year on each of on cotton, common bean, potato and zucchini squash, respectively. On another hand, the calculated birth rates were 0.185, 0.225, 0.171 and 0.224 while the intrinsic death rates were 0.0347, 0.035, 0.022 and 0.038 in the four host plants cotton, common bean, potato and zucchini squash, respectively. The mean durations (day) of E. decipiens nymphal instars on the four different hosts were studied. The duration of nymphal instars was significantly different from host plant to another.. The nymphal stage of E. decipiens was completed in 11.04, 13.75, 12.28 and 13.37 days on common bean, cotton, squash and potato, respectively.