New Record of Predation on Adult Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) by Euthyrhynchus floridanus and Podisus maculiventris (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)
Keywords:
generalist predator, Pentatomidae, citrus root weevilAbstract
The feeding responses of the predatory stink bugs E. floridanus and P. maculiventris to the citrus root weevil D. abbreviatus were studied at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry’s Florida Biological Control Laboratory in Gainesville, FL. This work was done in quarantine at temperatures of 25 ± 3°C with a 16-hour photoperiod (16:8 L/D) and a relative humidity of 50-55%. The E. floridanus and P. maculiventris males, females and 3rd-5th instars were kept individually in a Petri dish with a bean pod and moistened paper for 24 h. They were then exposed to a single D. abbreviatus male or female in Petri-dishes for 24 h. Twenty replications were made. At the end of the experiment percent predation was determined. Euthyrhynchus floridanus was more efficient than P. maculiventris at feeding on D. abbreviatus adults in the lab with no choice tests. This particular stinkbug can be easily mass reared and therefore has potential as augmentative biological control agent for the citrus root weevil. However, more testing is necessary to determine the overall impact of this predator in the field.
Las repuestas alimenticias de los chinches E. floridanus y P. maculiventris depredadores del picudo de la raíz de cítricos fueron estudiadas en la cuarentena de Gainesville a una temperatura de 25 ± 3°C, 16 horas de fotoperíodo (16:8 Luz/Oscuridad) y una humedad relativa de 50-55%. Machos, hembras y ninfas del 3ro-5to estadío de E. floridanus y P. maculiventris fueron mantenidos individualmente en platos de Petri con papel humedecido y una vaina de frijol común sin presa durante 24 h. Luego de este período, los depredadores fueron expuestos a un macho o una hembra adulta de D. abbreviatus por 24 h. Se utilizaron veinte repeticiones. Al final del experimento, se determinó el porcentaje de depredación. Euthyrhynchus floridanus fue más eficiente que P. maculiventris alimentándose de adultos del picudo de la raíz de cítricos. Euthyrhynchus floridanus podría criarse masivamente para ser utilizado en programas de control biológico del picudo de la raíz de cítricos por aumentación y conservación en los Estados Unidos de Norte América. Sin embargo, estudios adicionales son necesarios para determinar el posible impacto de este depredador en el campo.
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