Comparative feeding potential of aphidophagous pyralid, Dipha aphidivora (Meyrick) and brown lacewing, Micromus igorotus Banks on sugarcane woolly aphid, Ceratovacuna lanigera Zehntner.

摘要

The feeding potential of the biological control agents, Dipha aphidivora and Micromus igorotus, of the sugarcane woolly aphid (Ceratovacuna armigera) was evaluated in a controlled environmental chamber at 25+or-20C, 65+or-5% RH and 14 h photoperiod. It was observed that the overall mean consumption of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth instar larvae of D. aphidivora was 2.25, 5.45, 7.20, 11.38 and 9.73 aphids, respectively, under unstarved conditions, and 2.55, 5.75, 7.60, 11.45 and 10.08 aphids under starved conditions. Starved larvae consumed more aphids than unstarved larvae. Fourth instar larvae consumed more aphids than fifth instar larvae of the pyralid predator. In the case of M. igorotus, a similar trend of aphid consumption was observed. The aphid consumption of the first, second, third and fourth instar larvae and adults was 1.95, 4.55, 6.80, 10.65 and 9.40, respectively, under unstarved conditions, while under starved conditions it was 2.35, 4.93, 7.15, 11.50 and 10.23 aphids, respectively.