title: Environmental impact on the biological behavior of the cucurbit beetle the lady bird beetle (Epilachna chrysomellina) Coleoptera (Coccinellidae).
abstract: Epilachna chrysomelina (order Coleoptera, family Coccinellidae) is a phytophagous insect with an economic importance damaging the agricultural crops. The insect is abundant in the southern region of Saudi Arabia and choose the most favorable conditions for its life cycle completion. It prefers humid habitats with optimum temperature degrees. The generations of the insect are affected by changes in environmental conditions and its numbers increase or decline according to variation in temperature and relative humidity (RH). These factors play crucial role in changing its biological behavior particularly feeding, breeding, reproduction and development of its generations. There were significant differences between the different developmental stages in the periods of time of their development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Saleh A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Al-Digail
authors.forename: Ahmed I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Al-Saggaff
authors.forename: Osama M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Bahareth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000469:parasitology*; D019662:Cucurbitaceae / Q000469:parasitology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006813:Humidity; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D010058:Oviposition; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000469:parasitology; D011679:Pupa / Q000254:growth & development; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D013696:Temperature