SURVIVORSHIP AND FERTILITY SCHEDULES OF A SUMATRAN PHYTOPHAGOUS LADY BEETLE, EPILACHNA-ENNEASTICTA (COLEOPTERA, COCCINELLIDAE) UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS

A Sumatran phytophagous lady beetle, Epilachna enneasticta was reared under laboratory conditions in order to study its survivorship and fer tility schedules. E. enneasticta required 28.7 days for development of the immature stages. The mean longevity of males (90.4 days) was long er than that of females (71.4 days). The mean length of the pre-reprod uctive period (30.1 days) was longer than that of the post-reproductiv e period (2.4 days). Females laid eggs continuously at a rather consta nt rate throughout their reproductive period and the average number of eggs produced per female was 425.4. The intrinsic rate of natural inc rease r was 0.070 per capita per day. E. enneasticta showed half to tw o-thirds of the mean fecundity, twice the pre-reproductive period, and a lower intrinsic rate of natural increase than three of its sympatri c species in Sumatra (E. vigintioctopunctata, E. septima, and E. dodec astigma).