First Report on Voracity and Feeding Preference of Predatory Beetle, Thalassa montezumae (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on Croton Scale, Phalacrococcus howertoni (Hemiptera: Coccidae)

Netalie Francis, Lambert H. B. Kanga, Catharine M. Mannion, Muhammad Haseeb, Anthony Ananga and Jesusa Crisostomo Legaspi
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Netalie Francis: Center for Biological Control, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Florida A&M University, 308 South Perry-Paige Bldg, 1740 South Martin Luther King Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA
Lambert H. B. Kanga: Center for Biological Control, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Florida A&M University, 308 South Perry-Paige Bldg, 1740 South Martin Luther King Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA
Catharine M. Mannion: Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida/IFAS, 18905 SW 280 Street, Homestead, FL 33031, USA
Muhammad Haseeb: Center for Biological Control, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Florida A&M University, 308 South Perry-Paige Bldg, 1740 South Martin Luther King Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA
Anthony Ananga: Center for Biological Control, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Florida A&M University, 308 South Perry-Paige Bldg, 1740 South Martin Luther King Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA
Jesusa Crisostomo Legaspi: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, 6383 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32308, USA

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 7, 1-7

Abstract: The croton scale Phalacrococcus howertoni Hodges & Hodgson gen. nov., sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Coccidae), was first found in Florida, USA. This scale has become a pest because of its high reproductive rate and production of sooty mold. Here, we evaluated predation potential of the predatory beetle, Thalassa montezumae Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), as a biological control agent. To our knowledge, this is the first study of predation by T. montezumae on P. howertoni . Results of our studies showed that the predation by 4th instar T. montezumae was higher on 2nd stage nymphs than on 3rd stage nymphs P. howertoni ; predation on adults was lowest. Mean consumption by adult T. montezumae was highest on 2nd stage nymphs followed by 3rd stage nymphs, and adult P. howertoni . There were no significant differences between male and female adult T. montezumae in the prey first visited when offered a choice of 2nd or 3rd instar nymphs, or adults of P. howertoni. Thus, the levels of acceptance did not vary significantly between stages of prey visited by the males and females. Females chose prey faster than males and used less energy to search for food. Egg fecundity did not vary among female beetles fed with different stages of croton scales. Should P. howertoni become a major pest, T. montezumae could be used as a biological control agent within a biologically based integrated pest management program.

Keywords: croton scale; predation; fecundity; prey preference; pattern of movement; egg hatch (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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