CAPACIDADE PREDATÓRIA DE Ceraeochrysa cubana SOBRE Aleurocanthus woglumi

Abstract

The present study verified the consumption capacity of Ceraeochrysa cubana when fed nymphs of Aleurocanthus woglumi. The experiments were conducted at the Laboratory of Entomology, Departamento de Fitotecnia e Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal da Paraíba – Areia/PB. Was used a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement. The research was conducted in climatic chamber, regulated to 26 ± 2ºC, 70 ± 10% relative humidity and 12 hours photophase. The predation of C. cubana was evaluated for the three larval instars (1st, 2nd and 3rd), and as prey, nymphs of 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th instars of A. woglumi, with 10 repetitions per treatment. The larvae were individualized in Petri dishes (9.0 x 1.5 cm), with as standard food (control) Sitotroga cerealella eggs. The consumption among the predator instar among nymphs was higher and increasing for the first instar nymphs of A. woglumi. The total predation among the predator instar was higher when fed with nymphs of first instar of A. woglumi. The predator when fed with second instar nymphs of A. woglumi had higher intake in the 3rd larval stage. The green lacewing C. cubana is promising as a control agent of A. woglumi in biological control program, considering the infestations with nymphs of first instar of A. woglumi.