Predatory capacity and intraguild interaction between aphidophagous predators in the control of rose bush aphids

ABSTRACT Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) and Hippodamia convergens (Guérin-Meneville) are voracious generalist predators, and important aphid control agents. In an environment containing a complex of species, the occurrence of intraguild interactions can interfere in the predator behavior and consumption. The aim of this work was to know the number of nymphs of Rhodobium porosum (Sanderson) and Macrosiphum rosae (Linnaeus) consumed by larvae of C. externa and H. convergens, and the interaction between these predators when confined together. First, second and third instar nymphs of R. porosum and M. rosae were provided in Petri dishes containing rose leaflets and second instar larvae of the predators. Intraguild interaction was studied in Petri dishes containing first instar nymphs of both aphid species and a second instar larva of C. externa plus one of H. convergens. A third treatment consisted of dishes containing a second instar larva of both predators maintained in the absence of prey. The evaluations took place throughout the entire instar of the predators. C. externa consumed a greater number of R. porosum nymphs and H. convergens a greater number of M. rosae nymphs. For both species of prey, the highest consumption was verified on the last day of evaluation. There was a positive interaction when the predator's larvae were confined in the presence of aphid nymphs, with no mortality observed for any of them. In the absence of prey, there was 70% mortality of H. convergens larvae due to intraguild predation.

The Neuroptera of São Tomé e Principe

ABSTRACT Two new entomological surveys were carried out in the República Democrática de São Tomé e Principe in 2019 (earlier surveys were in 1956 and 2001). Of 16 species of Neuroptera identified, only one, a Mantispidae, appears endemic to the archipelago. Chrysopidae and Hemerobiidae account for the majority of species and individuals collected, concentrated here in plantations and anthropized environments, and known to be widely distributed in Africa and even worldwide. Unusually, the family Coniopterygidae is again absent, this time on natural terrains, confirming its earlier absence in 2001 on anthropized and plantation terrains. The findings and ecological distribution support the hypothesis that Hemerobiidae and Chrysopidae were introduced with cash crop cultivation, some of them as late as the 19th century. Their isolation in island environments is probably too recent to have allowed speciation mechanisms to generate endemic species in São Tomé.

Toxicity of Varronia curassavica Jacq. Essential Oil to Two Arthropod Pests and Their Natural Enemy.

This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of the Varronia curassavica Jacq. essential oil to two cosmopolitan and polyphagous pest species, the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) and the green aphid (Myzus persicae Sulzer). Additionally, we tested the essential oil toxicity to a generalist predatory insect, the green lacewing Ceraeochrysa cubana Hagen. The treatments consisted of four essential oil concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0%) and one control (Tween® 80 + water). At 0.75% concentration, the V. curassavica essential oil caused the highest mortalities for both pests. The concentration of 1.0% of the essential oil interfered mainly in the rates of oviposition and egg hatching and caused a decrease in the instantaneous population growth rate (ri) of T. urticae. Survival of the C. cubana was not affected by the highest tested concentration of the essential oil (1%). Tested concentrations V. curassavica essential oil were toxic to T. urticae and M. persicae, but not to the predator C. cubana.

The lacewing Ceraeochrysa caligata as a potential biological agent for controlling the red palm mite Raoiella indica.

BACKGROUND: Compared to chemical control, the use of naturally occurring biological agents to control invasive pests is less threatening to the environment and human health. OBJECTIVES: Here, we assessed the ability of immature stages of the lacewing Ceraeochrysa caligata (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) to prey upon different developmental stages of the red palm mite Raoiella indica (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), one of the most destructive invasive pests of palm trees in Neotropical regions. METHODS: Increasing densities of three stages of R. indica (eggs, immature stages, and adult females) were offered to C. caligata in coconut leaf arenas. The immature stages of C. caligata were less than 24 h old and were starved before being transferring to the arenas. The amount of prey consumed was recorded 6 h after releasing the C. caligata. RESULTS: Our results indicated that the ability of C. caligata to feed upon R. indica increased with the larval development of the predator. Higher feeding levels and shorter handling times were recorded for the first and second instars of C. caligata when preying upon the eggs and immature stages of R. indica. Furthermore, C. caligata individuals of different stages exhibited differential functional responses according to prey type (i.e., eggs, immatures, or adult females of R. indica). Ceraeochrysa caligata second instar individuals exhibited a sigmoid increase in consumption rate with increasing prey availability (i.e., a type III functional response) when preying upon immature stages of R. indica. However, when preying upon R. indica adult females, C. caligata second instar individuals exhibited a type II functional response (i.e., an increase in consumption rate with increasing prey availability, before reaching a plateau). Predator individuals of the first and third instar stages exhibited a type II functional response for all prey types. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our findings demonstrate that C. caligata, especially at the second instar stage, has potential as a tool for ecological management of the red palm mite.

Pest Management Systems and Insecticide Tolerance of Lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae).

Lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) are part of the beneficial fauna found in citrus orchards under both organic and conventional pest management. Due to their importance, knowledge about susceptibility of these predators to insecticides is a key element for their use as biological control agents. We studied the inter- and intraspecific susceptibility of the following lacewing species to bifenthrin, chlorpyrifos, and imidacloprid: Ceraeochrysa cincta (Schneider) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), Ceraeochrysa cubana (Hagen), Ceraeochrysa paraguaria (Navás), and Chrysoperla externa (Hagen). Different concentrations of these insecticides were sprayed on first instar larvae of these lacewing species from six orchards (three organic and three conventional), and LC50s were estimated. Development and reproduction of the most common lacewing, C. cincta, from both organic and conventional management systems were also studied. Lacewings from conventional management areas do not always have greater tolerance to insecticides. Chrysoperla externa was the most susceptible species to insecticides. Ceraeochrysa cincta displayed the highest LC50 and its populations from the conventional system showed lower egg hatching but shorter egg and larval developmental time. Adults collected from orchards managed conventionally lived longer, exhibited a higher population growth rate and a reduced doubling time. Ceraeochrysa cincta was the more tolerant species to insecticides better coping with systems that rely on chemical control as the main pest management tactic used.

Pollen Ingestion by Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) Adults in a Diversified Organic Agroecosystem.

Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) larvae prey on pest insects and mites in agroecosystems, and adults mainly feed on pollen, nectar, and honeydew. Therefore, preserving this lacewing in crop systems depends on having plants that provide these resources. The objectives of this research were to identify pollen grains ingested by Ch. externa adults collected in a diversified organic agroecosystem and to evaluate whether there is a difference in the amount of ingested pollen grains between males and females. The adults of Ch. externa were collected in four different crops during 13 months in Seropédica, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, using a collecting net. The adults were killed and underwent acetolysis, in order to recover the pollen in the gut. A total of 37,441 pollen grains from 19 Angiospermae families were found, besides 16 Pteridophyte spores. Among the recognized pollen grains, those of Poaceae were the majority, both in frequency of occurrence (87.5%) and in quantity (33496), and were found and recovered in every month of collection. Females and males ingested, respectively, 71.9 and 28.1% of the total number of Angiospermae pollen grains consumed by both sexes. The highest number of Poaceae pollens was obtained from the females (72.1% of the total number of Poaceae pollen, recovered from females + males). Taken as a whole, this study showed that adults of Ch. externa find possibilities to maintain throughout the year, in different crops, but the main source of pollen to males and females was Poaceae plants.

Toxicity and Metabolism of Zeta-Cypermethrin in Field-Collected and Laboratory Strains of the Neotropical Predator Chrysoperla externa Hagen (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae).

Resistance to pesticides has been studied in several insect pests, but information on the natural enemies of pests-including the Neotropical predator Chrysoperla externa Hagen (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), a major biological control agent in South America-is lacking. We report here a comparative study between a field-collected strain of C. externa subjected to monthly sprayings of pyrethroids and neonicotinoids and a laboratory strain without exposure to pesticides. The tolerance of both strains against zeta-cypermethrin was similar, and addition of the synergist piperonyl butoxide increased the toxicity by 30% in both strains. Gas-chromatography analyses and mixed-function-oxidase measurements indicated similar values in both strains and also confirmed the key role of oxidative metabolism in this species. Because C. externa has maintained a tolerance to zeta-cypermethrin without previous pesticide exposure, this species could potentially be mass-reared and released in fields in the presence of pesticide pressure.

Influência de diferentes cultivos e fatores climáticos na ocorrência de crisopídeos em sistema agroecológico / Influence of different crops and climate factors on the occurrence of green lacewings in agroecological system

Os insetos predadores da família Chrysopidae têm sido relatados tanto em ecossistemas naturais como nos agroecossistemas, sejam eles cultivos consorciados ou monocultivos. Porém, são escassas as informações sobre o comportamento das populações desses insetos nos agroecossistemas diversificados, como aqueles de base agroecológica. O presente trabalho teve o objetivo de determinar a riqueza de espécies de crisopídeos e avaliar a influência de diferentes cultivos agrícolas, assim como de fatores climáticos na abundância desses insetos em sistema de produção orgânica diversificada. O estudo foi conduzido de setembro de 2008 a agosto de 2009, por meio de amostragens semanais de adultos de Chrysopidae em áreas do Sistema Integrado de Produção Agroecológica, em Seropédica (RJ), cada qual com um tipo de sistema de cultivo (rotação milho-mucuna/olerícolas, cafeeiros sombreados e rotação cana-de-açúcar/pastagem de braquiária). Um total de 424 espécimes de crisopídeos foi coletado, sendo distribuídos em três espécies: Chrysoperla externa (98,1%), Ceraeochrysa cubana (1,7%) e Ceraeochrysa paraguaria (0,2%). Não houve diferença no número de adultos coletados em função dos diferentes cultivos, embora a análise de correlação evidencie que as rotações com poáceas favoreçam o aumento da sua abundância. A abundância dos crisopídeos foi influenciada pelo clima apenas no sistema de cafeeiros sombreados, sendo correlacionada negativamente com a temperatura média do ar e a com a precipitação pluvial acumulada.(AU)

The green lacewings (Chrysopidae) have been reported in natural ecosystems as well in agroecosystems, intercropping or monocropping. However, the knowledge on their behavior on different agroecosystems is scarce. The present work aimed to determine the diversity of green lacewing species and to evaluate the influence of different agricultural crops, as well as climate factors, on the abundance of these insects in an agroecologically-based organic production system. The study was conducted from September 2008 to August 2009, by performing weekly sampling of Chrysopidae adults in areas of the Integrated Production Agroecological System (SIPA) in Seropédica (RJ), each with one type of cropping system (corn-mucuna rotation/vegetable crops; shaded coffees and sugar cane/brachiaria pasture rotation). A total of 424 adult specimens were collected, belonging to three species: Chrysoperla externa (98.1%), Ceraeochrysa cubana (1.7%) and Ceraeochrysa paraguaria (0.2%). There were no differences on the number of green lacewing adults collected in the crops, although the correlation analysis showed that the crop rotations with grasses favor their abundance. The abundance of green lacewings was also influenced by the climate conditions only in the system of shaded coffees, being negatively correlated with mean air temperature and accumulated rainfall.(AU)

Influência de diferentes cultivos e fatores climáticos na ocorrência de crisopídeos em sistema agroecológico / Influence of different crops and climate factors on the occurrence of green lacewings in agroecological system

Os insetos predadores da família Chrysopidae têm sido relatados tanto em ecossistemas naturais como nos agroecossistemas, sejam eles cultivos consorciados ou monocultivos. Porém, são escassas as informações sobre o comportamento das populações desses insetos nos agroecossistemas diversificados, como aqueles de base agroecológica. O presente trabalho teve o objetivo de determinar a riqueza de espécies de crisopídeos e avaliar a influência de diferentes cultivos agrícolas, assim como de fatores climáticos na abundância desses insetos em sistema de produção orgânica diversificada. O estudo foi conduzido de setembro de 2008 a agosto de 2009, por meio de amostragens semanais de adultos de Chrysopidae em áreas do Sistema Integrado de Produção Agroecológica, em Seropédica (RJ), cada qual com um tipo de sistema de cultivo (rotação milho-mucuna/olerícolas, cafeeiros sombreados e rotação cana-de-açúcar/pastagem de braquiária). Um total de 424 espécimes de crisopídeos foi coletado, sendo distribuídos em três espécies: Chrysoperla externa (98,1%), Ceraeochrysa cubana (1,7%) e Ceraeochrysa paraguaria (0,2%). Não houve diferença no número de adultos coletados em função dos diferentes cultivos, embora a análise de correlação evidencie que as rotações com poáceas favoreçam o aumento da sua abundância. A abundância dos crisopídeos foi influenciada pelo clima apenas no sistema de cafeeiros sombreados, sendo correlacionada negativamente com a temperatura média do ar e a com a precipitação pluvial acumulada.(AU)

The green lacewings (Chrysopidae) have been reported in natural ecosystems as well in agroecosystems, intercropping or monocropping. However, the knowledge on their behavior on different agroecosystems is scarce. The present work aimed to determine the diversity of green lacewing species and to evaluate the influence of different agricultural crops, as well as climate factors, on the abundance of these insects in an agroecologically-based organic production system. The study was conducted from September 2008 to August 2009, by performing weekly sampling of Chrysopidae adults in areas of the Integrated Production Agroecological System (SIPA) in Seropédica (RJ), each with one type of cropping system (corn-mucuna rotation/vegetable crops; shaded coffees and sugar cane/brachiaria pasture rotation). A total of 424 adult specimens were collected, belonging to three species: Chrysoperla externa (98.1%), Ceraeochrysa cubana (1.7%) and Ceraeochrysa paraguaria (0.2%). There were no differences on the number of green lacewing adults collected in the crops, although the correlation analysis showed that the crop rotations with grasses favor their abundance. The abundance of green lacewings was also influenced by the climate conditions only in the system of shaded coffees, being negatively correlated with mean air temperature and accumulated rainfall.(AU)

Biological and behavior aspects of Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) on cotton plants / Aspectos biológicos e comportamentais de Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) em algodoeiro

It was aimed to study biological and behavior aspects of larvae and adults of Chrysoperla externa in greenhouse, on cotton plants. Recently hatched larvae were released on the upper third of cotton plants, which were previously infested with Aphis gossypii,. After emergence, adults were separated by sex and packed in cylindrical PVC recipients with cotton plant. We evaluated the duration of each larval, pre-pupal and pupal periods, pre-oviposition, oviposition, effective oviposition and post-oviposition periods, male and female logevity, daily and total oviposition capacity. The behavior of pupal stage was also evaluated, which released three larvae of the 3rd instar per cotton plant and they were put on the lower, medium and upper sections. As treatments, it was used naked soil, dried leaves from cotton plant, crushed rock nº 1; and crushed rock nº 1 + dried leaves. Larvae from different instars were released on the upper section of the cotton plants infested with A. gossypii to verify the search timing that marked the period the prey was exposed to the predator. C. externa larvae passed through all the phases of their biological cycle and there was no significant influence on the type of the soil covering used on pupal stage, since all of them were significantly higher on naked soil. There was no significative difference on the prey search by C. externa larvae.

Objetivou-se estudar aspectos biológicos e comportamentais de larvas e adultos de Chrysoperla externa em casa-de-vegetação, em plantas de algodão. Larvas recém eclodidas foram liberadas no terço superior de plantas de algodão previamente infestadas com Aphis gossypii, onde permaneceram até a pupação. Após a emergência, adultos foram separados por sexo, acondicionados em recipientes cilíndricos de PVC contendo uma planta de algodoeiro. Avaliaram-se a duração de cada ínstar, dos períodos larval, pré-pupal e pupal, dos períodos de pré-oviposição, oviposição, efetivo de oviposição, pós-oviposição, longevidade de machos e fêmeas, capacidade diária e total de oviposição. O comportamento de pupação foi avaliado liberando-se três larvas de terceiro ínstar por planta de algodão, colocando-as no terço inferior, médio e superior. Os tratamentos foram: solo nu, folhas secas de algodoeiro, brita no 1 e brita no 1 + folhas secas. Para se avaliar o tempo de busca, larvas nos diferentes ínstares, foram liberadas no terço superior de plantas de algodão infestadas com A. gossypii, cronometrando-se o tempo em que a presa ficou exposta ao predador. As larvas de C. externa passaram por todas as fases do seu ciclo biológico e não houve influência significativa do tipo de cobertura do solo utilizada na porcentagem de pupas recuperadas, sendo todas foram significativamente superiores a solo nu. Não ho

Biological and behavior aspects of Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) on cotton plants / Aspectos biológicos e comportamentais de Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) em algodoeiro

It was aimed to study biological and behavior aspects of larvae and adults of Chrysoperla externa in greenhouse, on cotton plants. Recently hatched larvae were released on the upper third of cotton plants, which were previously infested with Aphis gossypii,. After emergence, adults were separated by sex and packed in cylindrical PVC recipients with cotton plant. We evaluated the duration of each larval, pre-pupal and pupal periods, pre-oviposition, oviposition, effective oviposition and post-oviposition periods, male and female logevity, daily and total oviposition capacity. The behavior of pupal stage was also evaluated, which released three larvae of the 3rd instar per cotton plant and they were put on the lower, medium and upper sections. As treatments, it was used naked soil, dried leaves from cotton plant, crushed rock nº 1; and crushed rock nº 1 + dried leaves. Larvae from different instars were released on the upper section of the cotton plants infested with A. gossypii to verify the search timing that marked the period the prey was exposed to the predator. C. externa larvae passed through all the phases of their biological cycle and there was no significant influence on the type of the soil covering used on pupal stage, since all of them were significantly higher on naked soil. There was no significative difference on the prey search by C. externa larvae.

Objetivou-se estudar aspectos biológicos e comportamentais de larvas e adultos de Chrysoperla externa em casa-de-vegetação, em plantas de algodão. Larvas recém eclodidas foram liberadas no terço superior de plantas de algodão previamente infestadas com Aphis gossypii, onde permaneceram até a pupação. Após a emergência, adultos foram separados por sexo, acondicionados em recipientes cilíndricos de PVC contendo uma planta de algodoeiro. Avaliaram-se a duração de cada ínstar, dos períodos larval, pré-pupal e pupal, dos períodos de pré-oviposição, oviposição, efetivo de oviposição, pós-oviposição, longevidade de machos e fêmeas, capacidade diária e total de oviposição. O comportamento de pupação foi avaliado liberando-se três larvas de terceiro ínstar por planta de algodão, colocando-as no terço inferior, médio e superior. Os tratamentos foram: solo nu, folhas secas de algodoeiro, brita no 1 e brita no 1 + folhas secas. Para se avaliar o tempo de busca, larvas nos diferentes ínstares, foram liberadas no terço superior de plantas de algodão infestadas com A. gossypii, cronometrando-se o tempo em que a presa ficou exposta ao predador. As larvas de C. externa passaram por todas as fases do seu ciclo biológico e não houve influência significativa do tipo de cobertura do solo utilizada na porcentagem de pupas recuperadas, sendo todas foram significativamente superiores a solo nu. Não ho

Efeito de diferentes dietas sobre o desenvolvimento pós-embrionário de Chrysoperla defreitasi Brooks (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) / Effect of different diets on post-embryonic development of Chrysoperla defreitase Brooks (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

The post-embryonic period of the predator Chrysoperla defreitasi Brooks, fed on eggs of Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) and Diatrea saccharalis (Fabricius) was evaluated under laboratory conditions at 25±2ºC temperature, 70±10% RU, and 14h photophase. The chrysopidae eggs wereindividualized in glass tubes and after eclosion the larvae were fed on the respective preys and maintained under controlled conditions in a climatic chamber. The experimental design used was completely randomized with 150 replications for each diet. The duration of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd instars as well as of the pupal phase were 3.4, 2.7, 3.5, and 11.9 days, respectively, for the larvae fed on D. saccharalis and 3.6, 2.8, 2.7, and 9.3 days, respectively, when the diet provided was S. cerealella eggs. Chrysopidae larvae fed on eggs of D. saccharalis took an average of 21.5 days to complete the post-embryonicdevelopment, with 34.0% of adults emerged, while the individuals fed on S. cerealella eggs took 18.4 days in average, with 55.3% of adults emerged. Data allowed to conclude that the best diet for postembryonic development of C. defreitasi are eggs of S. cerealella, since insects fed on that diet had a shorter development period, higher viability of the three larval instars as well as of the pupal stage, producing higher number of adults.

Avaliou-se o período pós-embrionário do predador Chrysoperla defreitasi Brooksalimentada com ovos de Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) e Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) em condiçõesde laboratório à temperatura de 25±2°C, UR de 70±10% e fotofase de 14h. Os ovos do crisopídeo foram individualizados em tubos de vidro e, após a eclosão, as larvas foram alimentadas com as respectivas presas e mantidas em sala climatizada, sob condições controladas. O delineamento estatístico utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado com 150 repetições para cada dieta. As durações do 1o, 2o e 3oínstar e da fase pupal foram, respectivamente, 3,4, 2,7, 3,5 e 11,9 dias para larvas alimentadas com D.saccharalis e 3,6, 2,8, 2,7 e 9,3 dias, quando a dieta oferecida foi ovos de S. cerealella. Larvas de crisopídeos alimentados com ovos de D. saccharalis levaram em média 21,5 dias para completar o desenvolvimento pós-embrionário, com 34,0% de adultos emergidos, enquanto que os alimentadoscom ovos de S. cerealella levaram 18,4 dias com 55,3% de adultos. Pode-se, pois, constatar que a melhor dieta para o desenvolvimento pós-embrionário de C. defreitasi foram os ovos de S. cerealella, sendo que insetos alimentados com esta dieta apresentaram período mais curto de desenvolvimento, maior viabilidade nos três ínstares larvais e no período pupal, produzindo maior número de adultos.