Prey preference of the coccinellid beetle larvae, Cheilomenes sexmaculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on corn planthopper, Peregrinus maidis (Ashmead) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) and corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenee) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Date

6-2016

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

Major Course

Major in Entomology

College

College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Flor A. Ceballo

Abstract

This study investigated the prey preference of 3rd instar coccinellid beetle larva, Cheilomenessexmaculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), on corn planthopper, Peregrinusmaidis (Ashmead) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), and Asiatic corn borer, Ostriniafurnacalis (Guenee) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in laboratory experiments with five prey ratios (20planthopper: 0 Corn borer, 15 planthopper: 5 Corn borer, 10 planthopper: 10 Corn borer, 5 planthopper: 15 Corn borer, and 0 planthopper: 20 Corn borer). Third instar C. sexmaculatus larvae readily preyed upon both prey species, with planthopper mortality ranging from 47.5% to 62% and corn borer mortality ranging from 28% and 48%. The number of eaten prey at single species offered was significantly different. The predator had a significant preference index for P. maidis at one ratio (15 planthopper: 5 corn borer), but none for the other 2 ratios. There was no significant linear relationship between preference index and ratio (F = 0.60, df = 29, slope = -0.0139, t = - 0.78, p = 0.4437), but the significant intercept (t = 5.87, p< 0.0001) of the linear regression indicated that the linear model predicts an overall preference of C. sexmaculatuson P. maidis. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2016 A3 /R45

Document Type

Thesis

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