Received: 10-05-2012 / Accepted: 28-07-2012
The ladybird beetle, Scymnus hoffmanni, is a potential predator of aphids. The life cycle and adult fecundity were examined at laboratory. Life cycle of S. hoffmanni was 18.54 days for larvae reared on maize aphids, shorter than those reared on soybean aphids (19,92 days). Oviposition period lasted 19 days. Number of eggs deposited by female were 179.72 eggs. The number of maize aphids killed by S. hoffmanni 4th instar larvae and adult per day were 8.34 and 12.84, respectively. Maize aphids were preferred by S. hoffmanni in a prey preference test. Results obtained from this study provide basis for research on the utilization as predator in the biological control of aphids species.