Evaluation of Serangium parcesetosum (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) as a Biological Control Agent of the Silverleaf Whitefly (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

Abstract

The coccinellid predator from India, Serallgiwll pareesetoswll Sicard, was studied as a potential biological control agent of the silverleaf whitefly, Belllisia argelliifo/ii Bellows & Perring [also known as the sweetpotato whitefly, B. tahaci (Gennadius) Bio!)1,)e B]. Studies were performed on prey preference, and effects of host plant on predation, and temperature on life-histoty and predation rates. In one test, the predator was offered simultaneously 5 prey choices: corn earworm, Helieoverpa ;:;ea (Boddie) eggs; tobacco hornworm, MallC/uea sexta (L.) l'ggS; and =200 eggs and early instars of B. argelltifolii reared on poinsettias, cantaloupes, or cucumbers. S. pareesetoslIlII did not consume any lepidopteran eggs; however, they devoured nearly all whiteRy prey offered averaging =600 prey per 24-h feeding period. Mean adult longevities were 27.6 d on cantaloupe, 24.5 d on cucumber, 44.2 d on hibiscus, and 27.8 d on tomato. Each S. parcesetoslIlII adult consumed = 170-200 whitefly eggs and immatures per 12-h feeding period. The predation rate was highest on cucumbers, followed by tomato and cantaloupe, and lowest on hibiscus. Under constant temperature conditions of 20, 30, and 40°C, adults survived best at 20°C with a mean longe\~ty of =75 d. Adults lived =25 d at 30°C, whereas, 40°C resulted in death \\~thin 3 d. Predation rate was found to increase \~th temperature. The mean number of total immature B. argelltifo/ii consumed by S. pareesetoslIlIl adults was 138.9, 180.8, and 187.4 per 12-h feeding period at 20, 30, and 40°C, respectively. The maximum cumulative lifetime predation was measured at > 10,000 whiteflies consumed in the most long-lived indh~duals, despite feeding only 12 hid at ]-to 3-d intervals. Mean cumulative lifetime predation was measured at 4,909.5, 2,586.1, and 224.9 whiteflies at 20, 30, and 40°C, respectively. Because of its voracity in both immature and adult stages, and its apparent preference for whiteRies, including B. argelltifo/ii (compared \~th lepidopteran eggs),

Influence of Light-Dark Phase, Host Plant, Temperature, and Their Interactions on the Predation Rate in an Insect Predator

“…Previous studies have shown that different plant species can have profound effects on predation rates. In Serangium parcesetosum Sicard (Coccinellidae) feeding on B. argentifolii (Legaspi et al 1996), predation was highest on cucumbers, followed by tomato and cantaloupe, and lowest on hibiscus, which are similar to the results presented here. In the predatory stinkbug Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) feeding on 4 th instar Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), attack rates were higher and handling times shorter on sweet pepper and eggplant, compared with tomato (De Clercq et al 2000).…”

Prey consumption preferences of Serangium parcesetosum Sicard (Col., Coccinelidae) for different prey stages, species and parasitized prey

“…S. parcesetosum is recorded to be host specific to B. tabaci (Kapadia and Puri 1992)-This species also seems to be a specialist predator of whiteflies (Cohen et al 1995). When S. parcesetosum was offered simultaneously five prey choices, namely eggs of the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lep., Noctuidae) and eggs of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta (L.) (Lep., Sphingidae), as well as eggs and early instars of B. argentifolii reared on poinsettia, cantaloupe and cucumber plants, S. parcesetosum adults did not feed on H. zea eggs and M. sexta eggs presented, indicating a preference for B. argentifolii (Legaspi et al 1996). This author further stated that predatory adults prefer to feed on B. argentifolii immatures regardless of the host plant.…”

“…S. parcesetosum was first reported on B. tabaci in India (Kapadia and Puri 1992) and in 1994 it was found attacking D. citri and B. tabaci in Syria (Abboud and Ahmad 1998). It has also been used against the silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring, in the USA (Legaspi et al 1996).…”

Suitability of various prey types for the development of Propylea japonica (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

“…These include Serangium parcesetosum that feeds on eggs and nymphs of B. tabaci (Legaspi et al, 1996). B. tabaci pupae were more suitable prey for the development of S. parcesetosum larvae than nymphs and eggs, while pupae and nymphs were more suitable for the coccinellid females (Al-Zyoud & Sengonca, 2004).…”