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Title: EVALUATION OF SERANGIUM PARCESETOSUM (COCCINELLIDAE) AS A BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT OF THE SILVERLEAF WHITEFLY

Author
item LEGASPI, JESUSA - TEXAS AGRIC. EXPT. STN
item LEGASPI, BENJAMIN - TEXAS AGRIC. EXPT. STN.
item MEAGHER, ROBERT - UNIV. OF MINNESOTA
item CIOMPERLIK, MATT - USDA-APHIS-PPQ

Submitted to: Environmental Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/16/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: We studied a ladybug from India called Serangium parcesetosum as a biological control agent of the silverleaf whitefly, a serious pest in U.S. agriculture. Scientists from other countries have found that this ladybug is an effective predator of the whitefly and similar pests. In choice tests, we found that the ladybug ate only the whiteflies and chose not to feed on moth eggs which were offered simultaneously. Adult ladybugs live for about 75 days at 20 deg C, 25 days at 30 deg C, but only for 3 days at 40 deg C. The higher the temperatures, the more whiteflies they ate. A single adult ladybug can eat more than 10,000 whiteflies during its lifetime and even immature ladybugs feed on whiteflies. At 20 deg C, the average ladybug ate nearly 5000 whiteflies. Based on these findings, we believe that S. parcesetosum may be an effective control agent against the silverleaf whitefly.

Technical Abstract: Serangium parcesetosum was evaluated as a biological control agent of Bemisia argentifolii. The exotic coccinellid was offered simultaneously 5 prey choices: Helicoverpa zea eggs, Manduca sexta eggs; and ~200 eggs and early instars of B. argentifolii reared on poinsettias, cantaloupes, and cucumbers. S. parcesetosum did not consume any lepidopteran eggs, but devoured nearly all whitefly prey offered (~600 prey /24-h feeding period) Mean adult longevities were 27.6 d on cantaloupe, 24.5 on cucumber, 44.2 on hibiscus, and 27.8 on tomato. Each S. parcesetosum adult consumed ~170-200 whitefly immatures per 12-h feeding period. Predation was highest on cucumbers, followed by tomato and cantaloupe, and lowest on hibiscus. Adults lived ~75 d at 20°, ~25 d at 30°, and ~3d at 40° C. Predation rate increased with temperature: 138.9, 180.8, and 187.4 per 12-h feeding period at 20, 30 and 40° C, respectively. Maximum cumulative lifetime predation was >10,000 whiteflies consumed in the most long-lived individuals, despit feeding only 12 h / d at 1-3 d intervals. Mean cumulative lifetime predation was 4909.5, 2586.1, and 224.9 at 20, 30 and 40° C, respectively. Because of its voracity in both immature and adult stages, and its apparent preference for Aleyrodidae, including B. argentifolii, S. parcesetosum is a promising biological control agent against the silverleaf whitefly.