Revista Caatinga (Jan 2007)
PREDAÇÃO DA LAGARTA-MINADORA-DO-SCITROS Phyllocnistis citrella STAINTON, 1856 (LEPIDOPTERA: GRACILLARIIDAE) POR LARVAS DE Chrysoperla externa (HAGEN 1861) (NEUROPTERA: CHRYSOPIDAE)
Abstract
The citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton is an important pest of citrus orchards either by direct damage or by favoring citrus canker contamination. The experiment was carried out inlaboratory conditions to evaluate Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) larvae preying on P. citrella egg, larval and pupalstages. It was observed that all the immature stages were preyed by first, second and third larval instars. The developmental time of the predator had direct influence on preying capacity, reaching 100% for predator larvae on the prey second instar larvae. This is the first record of C. externa preying the citrus leaf miner eggs, larvae and pupae in the world.