BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS AND PREDATION CAPACITY OF Exochomus marginipennis (Leconte) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) ON Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae)

Abstract

The life cycle, life tables and predation capacity of Exochomus marginipennis (LeConte) on the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, vector of Huanglongbing (HLB) was evaluated. The life time of E. marginipennis eggs was 5.83 ± 0.07 days, while the larva, pupa-prepupa life time was 16.4 ± 0.73 and 5.82 ± 0.33 days, respectively. Adult longevity was 58.77 ± 8.33 days on average. The specific mortality rate (qx) remained low in the four larval instars and prepupa. During the egg stage it qx increases, while fertility (mx) and net reproductive rate (Ro) reached values greater than the unit, revealing with it an increase in the population, despite the high mortality of the egg. The larva IV (98.77 ± 2.61) followed by the larva III (97.60 ± 3.43) and the adult (96.00 ± 2.60) are the stages that are exerting a greater predation. Nymph V of D. citri is the instar consumed in smaller amounts. The results establish for the first time the life cycle of E. marginipennis under controlled conditions and its ability to sustain predation on D. citri. These results allow to decide on the use of E. marginipennis as a biological control agent.