Table 1 Changes in morphobiological parameters (mean ± SD) of the predator C. montrouzieri for 12 inbreeding generations using three genetic improved lines

Female length (mm)

Po

4.58 ± 0.41 a A

4.51 ± 0.48 b A

4.64 ± 0.26 a A

4.49 ± 0.50 a A

F1

4.32 ± 0.53 ab B

4.68 ± 0.25 b A

4.33 ± 0.37 b B

4.27 ± 0.44 ab B

F3

4.13 ± 0.56 bc B

4.90 ± 0.25 a A

3.95 ± 0.55 c B

3.99 ± 0.39 bc B

F6

3.97 ± 0.50 c B

4.91 ± 0.31 a A

3.86 ± 0.66 c B

3.81 ± 0.41 c B

F9

3.90 ± 0.39 c B

4.93 ± 0.27 a A

3.94 ± 0.37 c B

3.93 ± 0.31 c B

F12

3.81 ± 0.45 c B

4.94 ± 0.26 a A

3.89 ± 0.48 c B

3.83 ± 0.44 c B

− 16.81

+ 9.53

− 16.16

− 14.70

Fecundity

Po

134.97 ± 31.68 a A

138.20 ± 21.88 f A

131.40 ± 39.76 a A

149.70 ± 35.89 a A

F1

126.87 ± 33.43 a B

157.83 ± 15.03 d A

124.67 ± 34.47 ab B

128.53 ± 39.12 b B

F3

107.83 ± 22.46 b B

171.90 ± 14.13 c A

108.23 ± 36.47 bc B

113.83 ± 25.77 bcB

F6

94.77 ± 15.77 bc B

182.90 ± 13.50 b A

99.23 ± 24.70 c B

98.47 ± 19.73 c B

F9

87.90 ± 13.32 cd B

187.93 ± 13.25 ab A

96.77 ± 24.81 c B

97.17 ± 22.10 c B

F12

78.07 ± 12.75 d C

194.80 ± 15.45 a A

95.07 ± 16.86 c B

95.37 ± 16.13 c B

− 42.28

+ 40.96

− 27.65

− 36.29

Reproduction

Po

121.97 ± 32.73 a A

126.43 ± 23.94 d A

117.80 ± 39.16 a A

137.90 ± 38.78 a A

F1

113.63 ± 34.44 a B

142.67 ± 17.88 c A

110.80 ± 35.31 ab B

113.77 ± 41.07 b B

F3

93.57 ± 21.84 b B

157.33 ± 14.63 b A

92.97 ± 37.79 bc B

96.40 ± 29.99 bc B

F6

80.03 ± 15.85 bc B

165.77 ± 14.42 ab A

82.15 ± 28.02 c B

78.50 ± 26.83 c B

F9

73.20 ± 14.92 c B

166.67 ± 14.96 ab A

80.53 ± 24.87 c B

76.73 ± 20.75 c B

F12

64.73 ± 11.71 c C

174.20 ± 13.96 a A

78.03 ± 17.89

75.40 ± 17.78 c B

− 46.93

+ 37.78

− 33.76

− 45.32

% Survival rate

Po

89.74 ± ±3.79 a A

91.12 ± 3.86 a A

88.63 ± 7.57 a A

91.24 ± 5.22 a A

F1

88.75 ± 4.09 a A

90.21 ± 3.95 a A

87.90 ± 6.82 a A

87.12 ± 6.76 ab A

F3

86.41 ± 4.54 ab A

91.5 ± 3.23 a A

84.53 ± 7.66 ab A

83.62 ± 8.75 bc A

F6

84.19 ± 5.36 b B

90.61 ± 3.48 a A

82.15 ± 9.32 b BC

78.13 ± 12.32 c C

F9

83.04 ± 7.81 b B

88.68 ± 4.56 a A

82.55 ± 6.55 b B

78.82 ± 8.02 c B

F12

82.87 ± 6.82 b B

89.22 ± 5.62 a A

81.71 ± 7.42 b B

78.38 ± 9.42 c B

− 7.66

− 2.09

− 7.81

− 14.09

Preying potential of 3^rd larval instar (P. citri nymphs/day)

27.06 ± 3.45 a A

24.69 ± 3.45 a A

24.20 ± 3.41 d A

27.73 ± 2.23 a A

25.32 ± 2.78 ab A

23.33 ± 2.55 ab B

25.46 ± 2.92 cd A

26.42 ± 3.10 ab A

23.77 ± 2.86 bc B

21.88 ± 2.41 bc C

27.03 ± 2.20 bc A

24.78 ± 3.45 abc B

22.29 ± 3.06 cd B

20.52 ± 3.35 c C

28.04 ± 1.73 b A

24.67 ± 3.42 abc B

21.80 ± 3.44 cd C

20.72 ± 3.17 c C

28.18 ± 1.83ab A

23.80 ± 2.40 c B

21.42 ± 3.25 d C

20.78 ± 2.42 c C

29.72 ± 1.36 a A

24.05 ± 2.70 c B

Preying potential of female (P. citri nymphs/day)

Po

37.54 ± 7.83 a A

35.82 ± 3.74 a A

36.31 ± 5.89 a A

35.82 ± 3.74 a A

F1

35.28 ± 3.80 ab A

34.21 ± 4.85 a A

35.68 ± 4.02 a A

35.43 ± 4.28 a A

F3

33.38 ± 3.20 bc BC

31.07 ± 4.73 b C

36.40 ± 4.38 a A

34.30 ± 3.96 ab AB

F6

32.40 ± 3.10 bcd B

26.48 ± 4.90 c C

36.83 ± 5.26 a A

32.48 ± 3.45 bc B

F9

31.85 ± 3.04 cd B

26.33 ± 4.41 c C

36.39 ± 4.37 a A

31.62 ± 3.84 c B

F12

29.39 ± 3.19 d B

25.86 ± 4.64 c C

36.61 ± 4.38 a A

31.76 ± 1.43 bc B

Larval developmental period (Ll–L4)

Po

14.87 ± 2.08 a A

13.87 ± 2.30 a A

13.63 ± 1.77 a A

12.17 ± 1.70 c B

F1

13.97 ± 1.69 ab A

13.53 ± 1.61 ab A

12.93 ± 1.78 ab A

13.77 ± 1.76 b A

F3

13.53 ± 1.61 bc B

13.20 ± 1.69 ab BC

12.17 ± 1.34 b C

14.80 ± 1.69 ab A

F6

12.93 ± 1.66 bc B

12.40 ± 1.45 b B

12.23 ± 1.50 b B

14.83 ± 1.15 ab A

F9

12.70 ± 1.90 bc B

12.37 ± 1.52 b B

12.20 ± 1.37 b B

14.73 ± 1.05 ab A

F12

12.63 ± 1.61 c B

12.33 ± 1.54 b B

12.33 ± 1.40 b B

15.07 ± 1.55 a A

Developmental period

(Egg-adult)/days

Po

30.53 ± 2.21 a A

30.30 ± 2.22 a A

29.10 ± 2.60 b A

29.63 ± 2.06 b A

F1

30.77 ± 2.11 a A

30.80 ± 1.99 a A

29.53 ± 2.32 b A

30.23 ± 2.30 ab A

F3

30.23 ± 1.77 a A

30.20 ± 2.70 a A

29.97 ± 1.83 ab A

31.23 ± 2.13 a A

F6

30.17 ± 1.84 a A

30.77 ± 2.62 a A

30.43 ± 1.76 ab A

31.27 ± 2.08 a A

F9

30.10 ± 2.40 a A

31.00 ± 1.31 a A

31.20 ± 1.88 a A

31.13 ± 1.66 a A

F12

30.13 ± 2.69 a A

31.10 ± 1.27 a A

31.27 ± 2.32 a A

31.43 ± 1.43 a A