Evaluation of green lacewings, Chrysoperla plorabunda (Fitch) (Neurop., Chrysopidae), for augmentative release against Toxoptera citricida (Hom., Aphididae) in citrus

Abstract

Larvae of the lacewing Chrysoperla plorabunda (Fitch) were evaluated in laboratory and field tests for potential to control the brown citrus aphid, Toxoptera citricida (Kirkaldy) in inundative releases. Larvae surviving to pupation consumed an average of 1676, 1297, 392, 165 and 130 1st–4th instar T. citricida nymphs and apterous adults, respectively, and the mean developmental time was 27.0, 23.0, 16.5, 13.8 and 18.3 days, respectively. The average pupation rate was 37.5%, but only 6.3% of pupae yielded adults. Developmental time and survival to pupation varied with the life stage of aphids fed to larvae, 4th instars yielding the highest survival and shortest developmental time. Development of C. plorabunda was compared on diets of T. citricida and Aphis spiraecola. Only 6.3% of larvae completed development on T. citricida, whereas 37.5% yielded adults on A. spiraecola. Larvae consumed more of the brown T. citricida than the green A. spiraecola in a choice test on a white background, but no preference was evident when aphids were offered on a black background. Two separate field trials were performed in citrus groves with T. citricida infestations in which an average of 275 and 116 C. plorabunda larvae/tree were released, respectively. The rate of T. citricida colony maturation (= survival to alate production) was very low in the first trial, and relatively high in the second trial, but did not differ between control and release trees in either trial. The most apparent cause of aphid colony mortality was predation by the coccinellids Cycloneda sanguinea L. and Harmonia axyridis Pallas. Despite acceptance of T. citricida in the laboratory, very few C. plorabunda larvae were observed feeding on aphid colonies on release trees.

Repellency of conspecific and heterospecific larval residues to Hippodamia convergens (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) ovipositing on sorghum plants

“…In such cases, it seems likely that the stimulus is used merely as an indicator of environmental conditions suitable for larval development when cannibalism does not represent a significant mortality risk for immature stages. In aphid predators, cannibalism of eggs and other larvae appears to be the rule, rather than the exception and has been well documented in both Chrysopidae (Canard & Duelli, 1983;Michaud, 2001) and Syrphidae (Branquart et al, 1997;Belliure & Michaud, 2001). In the Coccinellidae especially, the importance of cannibalism for larval survival cannot be overestimated.…”

Aphid-plant interactions affect the suitability of Myzus spp. as prey for the two spot ladybird, Adalia bipunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

“…Henderson) and correlated this with elevated concentrations of a cyanogenic glycoside that appeared to impede the mite's ability to utilize plant protein. Aphid size alone may affect the foraging efficiency of aphidophagous larvae, and thus their developmental rates (Roger et al, 2000;Michaud, 2001). Although Giles et al (2002a) found no significant effect of alfalfa cultivar, Medicago sativa, on the suitability of Acyrthosiphum kondoi as prey for either Hippodamia convergens Guerin-Meneville or C. septempunctata, Giles et al (2002b) found that rearing Acyrthosiphum pisum Harris on alfalfa improved its suitability as prey for C. septempunctata compared to rearing it on Vicia faba L., an effect the authors attributed to greater lipid storage by the aphids when feeding on the former plant.…”

Impact of some alternative methods to chemical control in controlling aphids (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha) and their side effects on natural enemies on young Moroccan citrus groves

“…Chrysopidae species are known as generalist predators that greatly contribute to the natural control of pest species in citrus orchards such as aphids, citrus leafminer and whiteflies (Michaud , 2001). In our study, C. carnea density was high during the first week for dalia/d1 and untreated control treatments during 2009 and for adalia/d2, kaolin and untreated control treatments during 2010.…”

“…It is also the case of kaolin, a natural mineral product in the form of fine white powder, which was reported as effective against several pest Lepidoptera (Jaastad et al 2006;Sackett et al 2005), beetles (Showler 2002), mites (Jaastad et al 2006), fruit flies (Braham et al 2007;Mazor & Erez 2004;Saour & Makee 2004;Villanueva & Walgenbach 2007), thrips (Larentzaki et al 2008) and aphids (Karagounis et al 2006;Wyss & Daniel 2004). On the other hand, an augmentative biological control technique using especially native species often has been reported as a potential method to control some pests (Cock et al 2009;Crowder 2007;Iperti 1999;Michaud 2001;Van Lenteren & Bueno 2003).…”