Foraging behavior of the yellow netted ladybeetle Heteroneda billardieri Crotch (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Issue Date

6-2014

Abstract

Laboratory experiments were conducted to explore the potential of the yellow netted ladybeetle (Heteroneda billardieri Crotch) to control populations of the mango leafhopper (Idioscopus clypealis Lethierry). We studied the preference of the predatory beetle for the mango leafhopper and its host selection behavior on a three-prey-host plant system, using leafhopper (I. clypealis) on Mangifera indica, psyllid (Heteropsylla cubana Crawford) on Leucaena leucocephala and aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch) on Vigna unguiculata. In prey-host selection behavior, H. billardieri adults were found to land significantly more often on M. indica plants than on V. unguiculata or L. leucocephala, even when M. indica flowers were pestinfested or non-infested. The adults also selected V. unguiculata to a lesser extent regardless of whether V. unguiculata was pest-infested or not. However, the predator preferred the pest-infested L. leucocephala over the non-infested. In terms of preference for prey, H. billardieri preferred H. cubana to I. clypealis and A. craccivora. H. cubana comprised 64-68% of the total consumption.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Agricultural Scientist

ISSN

0031-7454

Volume

97

Issue

2

Page

155-160

Document Type

Article

Physical Description

tables, graphs

Language

English

Subject

Biological control, Foraging behavior, Integrated pest management, Ladybeetle, Mango leafhopper, Predator-prey interactions

Digital Copy

yes

Link to Full Text

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