Annals of Applied Biology (2017) 171, 303-315

N. Rodrigues-Silva, S. de Oliveira Campos, E. de Sá Farias, T.C. de Souza, J.C. Martins and M.C. Picanço (2017)
Relative importance of natural enemies and abiotic factors as sources of regulation of mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Brazilian coffee plantations
Annals of Applied Biology 171 (3), 303-315
Abstract: In the present study, we determined the critical stages and the key factors of mortality for Planococcus citri (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Brazilian coffee plantations using a life table to understand the role of natural biological control on its population. Predators, parasitoids, rainfall, sunlight, physiological disturbances and fungal diseases were collectively responsible for 98.79% in the total mortality of P. citri. Predators belonging to the Chrysopidae, Syrphidae, Dolichopodidae and Coccinellidae families were the most important mortality factors in the early developmental stages of P. citri (i.e. eggs and 1st and 2nd instar nymphs), whereas predators belonging to the Coccinellidae and Chrysopidae families were the most important mortality factors for the last instars (i.e. 3rd instars and adults) for P. citri. The generalist predators Harmonia axyridis, Chrysoperla genanigra and Chrysoperla externa were the key mortality factors for P. citri. The third nymph stage was considered the critical life stage (i.e. the life stage that most influences population size). Our results show that generalist predators and climatic factors are important sources of natural mortality of P. citri governing the population dynamics of this pest in the field.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: English)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Júlio Cláudio Martins, Marcelo Coutinho Picanco

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
environment - cropping system/rotation
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Planococcus citri	Coffee (Coffea)
Harmonia axyridis (predator)	Planococcus citri	Coffee (Coffea)
Chrysoperla externa (predator)	Planococcus citri	Coffee (Coffea)
Chrysoperla genanigra (predator)	Planococcus citri	Coffee (Coffea)