MASS PRODUCTION OF Ceraeochrysa valida (BANKS) (NEUROPTERA: CHRYSOPIDAE) AT 30°C

Abstract

At present, the entomophagous insect area of the National Biological Control Reference Center (CNRCB) in Tecomán, Colima, Mexico, is generating and validating alternatives that involve the mass production of Ceraeochrysa valida. This insect is a generalist predator widely distributed in different states of the Republic, and therefore has a great potential in biological control programs. The CNRCB has identified that the massive production of this predator requires saving time and food under artificial breeding conditions. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the production of eggs of C. valida at a temperature of 30°C in order to shorten the biological cycle and produce a larger number of specimens in the shortest time possible. The results indicate that the biological cycle reduced its longevity 9.33 ± 1.1 days compared to the control. Larva II recorded the greatest reduction (2.33 ± 0.21). Egg production was 5561.22 eggs at 30°C, and 4924.82 eggs in the control. Wilcoxon’s statistical tests (Pr > z = 0.3106; Pr > z = 0.6212), Kruskall-Wallis (Pr> chi-square = 0.6171) and t-test (Pr > z = 0.3114; Pr > | z | = 0.6228) show no significant difference compared to the control. The results obtained indicate that the massive production of C. valida is possible at 30°C, saving time and food under artificial breeding conditions.