Biologia de Ceraeochrysa cubana (Hagen, 1861) (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae) em diferentes dietas e temperaturas

Abstract

The objective of this work was to study both the biology of the immature stages and adult stage of Ceraeochrysa cubana (Hagen, 1861) (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae) on different diets at 20, 25 and 30 °C, RH 70 + 10% and 12 hours of photophase. The trials were conducted in the Insect Biology Laboratory at the "Escola Superior de Agricultura de Lavras" - ESAL, Minas Gerais State, Brasil. The rearing of C. cubana was started with the collection of adult insects on the citrus orchard on Campus of the ESAL. The duration of the immature stages decreased with increasing temperature from 20 to 30 °C. When the larvae were fed only on eggs of Anagasta kuehniella, there was a low percentage of emerged insects, although they completed the phase. Adding the aphid Toxoptera spp. and/or a solution of AminosterilR with or without electrolyts to the eggs of A. kuehniella, the production of adult insects increased to a great extent. However, the duration of the immature phases was shortened beside the high total viability, when the larvae were given diets containing Aminosteril without electrolyts. Adults originated from the larvae reared on eggs of A. kuehniella and the aphid Toxoptera spp., fed five high protein diets from different sources and kept under the three temperatures. The results obtained showed that the quality of the diet and the rearing temperature influenced the biology of the adult insect. The diets containing yeast + honey at 25 °C, provided the females of C. cubana with greater potencial of reproduction. Adding royal jelly to yeast and honey, caused an increase in the percentage of hatching of the eggs.