Biological control of mealybugs with lacewing larvae is affected by the presence and type of supplemental prey

Abstract

The diversity of prey and food sources in crops has a major effect on biological pest control by generalist predators. In this study, we tested if and how supplemental prey or food affects the control of the citrus mealybug Planococcus citri (Risso) by larvae of the green lacewing Chrysoperla lucasina (Lacroix). The larvae of this predator are the only stage that feed on prey, thus ideally the supplemental food should result in high larval survival but a low developmental rate. Juvenile survival and developmental time of lacewing larvae were measured on various food items, either alone or mixed with mealybugs. Mealybugs were a suboptimal prey: up to 50 % of the lacewing larvae died before they reached the pupal stage and the developmental time was relatively long when feeding exclusively on mealybugs. Mixing mealybugs with supplemental prey increased larval survival, but also reduced larval developmental time and thereby the period in which the larvae could prey on mealybugs. Moreover, adding eggs of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, which appeared to be of high quality for lacewings, reduced the consumption of mealybugs by lacewing larvae in the laboratory. The addition of the prey mite Acarus siro (L.) also reduced larval mortality, but did not reduce mealybug predation rates by lacewing larvae. Greenhouse trials showed better mealybug control by lacewing larvae with supplemental prey of low quality (prey mites) rather than alternative prey of high quality (Ephestia eggs). In conclusion, biological control of mealybugs by lacewing larvae was strongly affected by the nutritional quality of the supplemental food source.

Comparative biology, predation capacity and effect of an artificial diet on reproductive parameters of green lacewing Mallada boninensis (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

“…The duration or development times of all life stages from larvae to pupae were determined by daily observation. On the emergence of adults, they were immediately grouped according to sex and introduced as pairs in sterilized plastic containers (120 × 175 × 70 mm) and provided with castor pollen and paper towels soaked in water with honey as a food source (Messelink et al ., ). After mating, data on developmental (instar and pupal duration) and reproductive parameters (preoviposition period, oviposition period, oviposition rate, total number of eggs, hatching success, larval survival, adult emergence, and female and male longevity) were recorded.…”

A DNA barcode reference library of Neuroptera (Insecta, Neuropterida) from Beijing

“…Because of the predatory feeding habits, some lacewing species, e.g., the species of Chrysopidae, Hemerobiidae, and Coniopterygidae, are economically important and have been used for the biocontrol of agricultural pest insects (Goolsby et al 2000; McEwen et al 2001; Sato and Takada 2004; Bezerra et al 2006; Abdrabou 2008; Vidya et al 2010; Messelink et al 2016). However, the species identification of these lacewing groups is not easy to handle, particularly for people who are not the specialists of Neuroptera, because there are many morphologically similar species, which require examination of detail morphological characters, such as marking patterns on body and genitalia.…”

Prey‐mediated changes in the selectivity of the predator Macrolophus pygmaeus (Heteroptera: Miridae)

“…These attributes should be addressed to predict the efficacy of a predator (Eubanks & Denno ; Messelink et al . ).…”