[Ecological and Biological Study of Cigarette Beetle Lasioderma Serricorne and Survey its Natural Enemies]

Ecological and biological study of the cigarette beetle Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) has been conducted at the Biological Control Studies and Research Center Laboratories, (BCSRC), Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University Syria, during 2010-2012. The effects of food types, on some the biological parameters of the Cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (F.) at 28±1°C and 65±5% r.h and 16:8 (L:D) photoperiod were studied, and Using of Age-specific Fecundity Schedules to Determine the Favorite food type of Lasioderma serricorne (F.) and effects of constant and variable temperatures, on some the biological parameters of the Cigarette beetle when reared on Baker's yeast, and identify natural enemies fauna associated with the cigarette beetle in warehouses at three locations in Syria. A rearing laboratory was been for insect beetle tobacco on five types of food (powdered chicken stock (Maggi), Baker's yeast, grains milo, dried ficus, dried tobacco leaves), under laboratory conditions at a temperature of 28°± 1C and 65 ± 5% RH. For studying development time of different stages of the insect and the duration of one generation, and the total fecundity of female. The study showed a variance of life stages to one generation of the insect, depending on a type of food. Averages for one generation (66.14 ± 0.82), (40.20 ± 0.27), (39.83 ± 0.48) (39.33 ± 0.58), (34.23 ± 0.13) days when rearing on dried tobacco leaves and powdered chicken stock (Maggi) and dried ficus and grains millo and yeast, respectively. The highest real mortality of the immature stages 73.3% when rearing the beetle on the dried ficus and then 53.3 20.0, 6.7, 3.3% (dried tobacco leaves, grains millo, powdered chicken stock (Maggi), yeast) respectively. Also differed longevity of the adult cigarette beetle, depending on a type of food. The average longevity of female was: (19.80 ± 0.66), (15.20 ± 0.37 ),( 14.20 ± 0.37), (13.80 ± 0.37) (12.80 ± 0.37) days when rearing on dried ficus, grains millo, powdered chicken stock (Maggi), yeast, dried tobacco leaves respectively. Fecundity of female variated depending on a type of food. Which reached 95.50 , 84.25 , 65.25 , 63.50 and 12.00 eggs / female rearing at the chicken stock powder (maggi), Baker's yeast, dried ficus, grains millo dried tobacco leaves, respectively. Age-specific fecundity schedules of the of the cigarette beetle Lasioderma serricorne (F.) was constructed in the laboratory. Observations indicated that at temperature 28°± 1C, the total reproduction rate (GRR) by females feeding on chicken stock powder (maggi), Baker's yeast, grains millo, dried ficus, and dried tobacco leaves, was 47.46, 42.125, 31.75, 32.625 and 6.00 female/ female/genaration, the net reproduction rate (R0) 47.46, 42.125, 31.75, 32.625 and 6.00 female/ female/day, respectively. the doubling time of population (DT) was 7.22, 6.30, 7.88, 7.97 and 25.67 days; intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was 0.096, 0.11, 0.088, 0.087 and 0.027 female/ female/day, respectively. This Age-specific fecundity schedules reflect L.serricorne ability for doubling its population faster on Baker's yeast than on (powdered chicken stock (Maggi), grains milo, dried ficus and dried tobacco leaves at same temperature 28°± 1C. The cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (F.) biology was investigated under controlled laboratory conditions at 17, 22, 27, 32, and 37 °C, 65± 5 % r.h. and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h when reared on Baker's yeast . Lasioderma serricorne had a significantly shorter mean total Developmental period at 32 °C compared with other temperature. The results showed that no laying egg at 17 and 37°C and The highest mean of Fecundity was found to be 85.40 eggs / female at 32 °C. The lower developmental thresholds (LDT) for eggs, larvae and pupa were 11.0, 13.5 °C and 14.6°C, respectively, and Lasioderma serricorne requires a Sum of Effective Temperatures (SET) of 555.5 degree-days above the lower developmental threshold 13.5 °C to complete development from egg to adult. Also the results of this study revealed the presence of four species of parasitoids; three pteromalids; Anisopteromalus calanrae (Howard) Lariophagus distinguendus (Forster) and Pteromalus cereallae (Ashmead) and one encyrtid; Ericydnus sipylus (Walker) were recorded associated with the pest throughout the study period. A. calanrae was the most abundant one. As well, the two predacious mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acaridae) and Amblyseius Swirskii (Athias-Henriot) (Phytoseiidae) , and was recorded for the first time as natural enemies fauna associated with the cigarette beetle in warehouses, in Syria.