Abstract

Dodi Fakhr Elwi*, Mohamed Atta Hosny, Ayman Waked, Tamer Rizk Zaki

The black blister beetle Meloe proscarabaeus wa s firstly recorded in Egypt 1970s. The current study was carried out to inve stigate the effect of different host plants on the adult performance parameters. Feeding on the pea Pisum sativum detrimentally affected the survival potential because 100% female mortality and 80% male mortality were recorded. On the other hand, the lettuce Lactuca sativa was found suitable for the beetle survivorship. The longe st total longevity of both sexes wa s recorded after feeding on L. sativa but wa s remarkably shortened by feeding on the clover Trifolium alexandrinum. On comparing with the faba bean Vicia faba, a slight increa se in the body weight was e stimated for both sexes after feeding on T. alexandrinum but a slight decrease after feeding on L. sativa or P. sativum, during the pre-oviposition (or pre-copulation) period. A different trend was detected during the oviposition (or copulation) period. Feeding on T. alexandrinum induced the females to be more fecund but feeding on L. sativa deleteriously reduced the fecundity. Higher hatchability was estimated by mother feeding on T. alexandrinum but lower hatchability was found on L. sativa.