Consumo e preferência alimentar dos crisopídeos Chrysoperla externa e Ceraeochrysa cubana pelos afídeos da roseira Macrosiphum rosae e Rhodobium porosum

Abstract

Among ornamental plants, rose (Rosa sp.) Is the most widely cultivated cut flower in Brazil. The rose bush cultivation faces some challenges, which mostly are related to pest control, among them the aphids. The Chrysoperla externa and Ceraeochrysa cubana lacewings are among the aphidophagous species that can be used against these insect pests. But when it comes to general insects, are needed many studies, among which include those related to predatory capacity and preference for target prey. In this sense, the present study aimed to evaluate the consumption for the three instars and feeding preference of C. externa and C. cubana, against two aphid species of rose, Macrosiphum rosae and Rhodobium porosum. For this, leaflets arranged rosebush in a petri dish were infested with first instar nymphs of aphids, which was released a larva of each species of newly hatched green lacewing. We evaluated the number of nymphs consumed after 24 hours, when it was given the initial number of prey, according to urge the green lacewing, obtained in a preliminary test. This was done until it has completed the development of predators. There were differences in the consumption of R. porosum and M. rosae on the basis of C. externa instars and C. cubana. It was found for both predators, increased predation during t he larval stage with the largest number of prey consumed when the third stage. Both species of lacewings preferred nymphs of M. rosae in relation to those of R. porosum, although they presented a high consumption of nymphs of the two aphids. The results show that these predators have potential for use as control agents of these aphids on commercial cultivation of roses.