BioControl (2016) 61, 555-565

Gerben J. Messelink, Roland Vijverberg, Ada Leman and Arne Janssen (2016)
Biological control of mealybugs with lacewing larvae is affected by the presence and type of supplemental prey
BioControl 61 (5), 555-565
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.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Gerben J. Messelink, Arne Janssen

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
application technology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Planococcus citri
Chrysoperla lucasina (predator)	Planococcus citri