COMPARATIVE DEVELOPMENTAL TIMES AND LABORATORY LIFE TABLES FOR DROSOPHLIA SUZUKII AND DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER (DIPTERA: DROSOPHILIDAE)

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and Drosophila melanogaster Meigen were studied in a laboratory at 25 degrees C, 60% RH and 16:8h L:D. Stage-specific developmental times, reproduction, stage-specific survival rates, and adult sex ratios were recorded and organized in separate life tables for each species. The intrinsic rate of increase (r), the finite rate of increase (lambda), the net reproduction rate (R0) and the mean generation time (T) were 0.12 day(-1), 1.13 day(-1), 27.57 offspring, and 28.04 days, respectively, for D. suzukii and 0.17 day(-1), 1.19 day(-1), 38.17 offspring, and 21.27 days, respectively, for D. melanogaster. The use of the age-stage, two-sex life table method to study D. suzukii and D. melanogaster yielded considerably more accurate and useful data than would have been obtained by using the female-only age-specific life table. These life tables can be used for population growth projections, designing mass-rearing programs, and for pest management.