Abstract
The lady beetle Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is an important predator of the mealybug Saccharicoccus sacchari (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), a pest sugarcane (Saccharum species hybrid) in China. To efficiently use this predator in biological control of mealybugs, predation parameters of C. montrouzieri on S. sacchari were studied. The prey feeding by C. montrouzieri of the 1st instar of S. sacchari nymphs was observed in the laboratory every 2 day. The functional response of C. montrouzieri to the 1st instar S. sacchari nymphs was determined as well as the prey feeding under different mealybug densities: 75, 150, 300, 600 and 1200. In addition, the populations of S. sacchari were observed in a greenhouse following the release of C. montrouzieri at the rate of one adult/plant and another with 2nd instar larva/plant, respectively, and were compared to situations where no predators were released. There was a significant difference between the average consumption per day of the 1st instar S. sacchari nymph by female and male adults of C. montrouzieri with 324.35, 303.10 mealybugs/day, respectively. The functional responses of female and male adults of C. montrouzieri on S. sacchari nymphs were determined as Holling type II. The Holling type II model for C. montrouzieri adults was Na = 1.2716NT/(1 + 0.001132N) for females and Na = 1.2252NT/(1 + 0.001482N) for males. The search rate (a) of C. montrouzieri females (1.2716) on the 1st instar nymphs of S. sacchari was higher than that of males (1.2252), while the handling time (Th) of females (0.00089) was shorter than that of males (0.00121). The results showed that S. sacchari population on sugarcane decrease from 12.90, 42.70 and 25.50 individuals/plant to 0.50, 4.50 and 7.30 individuals/plant, respectively, after released the predators for 20 days. The results from this study indicated that C. montrouzieri is a highly efficient predator of S. sacchari, and therefore, it could be tested further for possible use as a biocontrol agent for management of sugarcane mealybug.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Atiqui, M.U.A., and H. Murad. 1992. Assessment of loss in sucrose content of sugarcane due to sugarcane mealybug, Saccharicoccus sacchari (Ckll). Journal of Insect Sciences 5 (2): 196–197.
Basu, T. 2010. Adoption of biocontrol agents at the field level for management of mealybugs: Challenges and proposed solutions. Journal of Biopesticides 3: 55–57.
Bonnett, G.D., and M.L. Hewitt. 2005. Numbers of pink sugarcane mealy bug, Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), differ within seasons and among region and stages of the sugarcane crop cycle. Australian Journal of Entomology 44: 304–309.
Holling, C.S. 1961. Principles of insect predation. Annual Review of Entomology 6: 163–182.
Houck, M.A., and R.E. Strauss. 1985. The comparative study of functional response: Experimental design and statistical interpretation. Canadian Entomologist 117: 617–629.
Huang, B.K. 1963. The Cryptolaemus montrouzieri breeding and using after the introduction of Fujian. Entomological Knowledge 7: 124–126.
Jin, W., W. Zheng, X.F. Liu, M.X. Yun, P.L. Jiang, W.F. Xiao, and Z.Q. Zhang. 2001. Study on relationship between the population occurrence of sugarcane mealybugs and planted years. Jiangxi Plant Protection 24 (3): 70–72.
Li, L.Y. 1993. The research and application prospects of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri in China. Natural Enemies of Insects 15: 142–152.
Maes, S., J.C. Gregoire, and P.D. Clercq. 2014. Prey range of the predatory ladybird Crptolaemus montrouzieri. BioControl 59: 729–738.
Mani, M., and A. Krishnamoorthy. 1997. Australian ladybird beetle, Crptolaemus montrouzieri. Madras Agriculture Journal 84: 237–249.
Martinou, A.F., B. Raymond, P.G. Milonas, and D.J. Wright. 2010. Impact of intraguild predation on parasitoid foraging behaviour. Ecological Entomology 35: 183–189.
Murdoch, W.W., and A. Oaten. 1975. Predation and population stability. Advances in Ecological Research 9: 2–131.
Ozgokce, M.S., R. Atlihan, and I. Karaca. 2006. The life table of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) after different storage periods. Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment 4: 282–287.
Pang, X.F., and L.Y. Li. 1979. Studies on the Cryptolaemus montrouzieri settling control of mealybug harm in Guangzhou and other place. Natural Enemies of Insects 1: 50.
Papanikolaou, N.E., A.F. Martinou, D.C. Kontodimas, Y.G. Matsinos, and P.G. Milonas. 2011. Functional response of immature stages of Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (Coleoptera: Conccinellidae) to Aphis fabae (Hemiptera: Aphididae). European Journal of Entomology 108: 391–395.
Pemberton, C.E. 1960. The possible role of insects in varietal yield decline of sugar cane. Proceedings of the International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists 10: 59–62.
Pu, Z.L., D.P. He, and D.A. Deng. 1959. Studies on the breeding and utilization of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and Rodolia cardinalis. Journal of Sun Yat-sen University 2: 1–8.
Qin, Z.Q., B.L. Qiu, J.H. Wu, A.G.S. Cuthbertson, and S.X. Ren. 2014a. Effects of three mealybug species on the development, survivorship and reproduction of the predatory lady beetle Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant. Biocontrol Science and Technology 24 (8): 891–900.
Qin, Z.Q., W.H. Huang, J.J. Wei, A. Nikpay, and Z.Y. Deng. 2014b. Occurrence and damage of pink sugarcane mealybug, Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Guangxi, China. International Association of Professionals in Sugar and Integrated Technologies (IS-2014): Green Technologies for Sustainable Growth of Sugar & Integrated Industries in Developing Countries, pp. 330–333, Nanning, P.R. China, 25–28 November.
Rosas-Garcia, N.M., E.P. DuranMartinez, E.D.J. de Luna-Santillana, and J.M. Villegas-Mendoza. 2009. Potencial of depredation of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant hacia Planococcus citri Risso. Southwestern Entomologist 34: 179–188.
Silva, P.G.D., K.S. Hanen, and A.P. Gutierrez. 1992. Functional response of Curinus coeruleus (Col.:Coccinellidae) to Heteropsylla cubana (Hom.:Psyllidae) on artificial and natural substrates. Entomophaga 37 (4): 555–564.
Solomon, M.E. 1949. The natural control of animal population. Journal of Animal Ecology 18: 1–35.
Tang, C., H. Pang, S.X. Ren, and X.F. Pang. 1995. Studies on the Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant feeding on loblolly pine mealybug Oracella acuta (Lobdell). Natural Enemies of Insects 17: 9–12.
Funding
This study was funded by the Guangxi Sugarcane Innovation Team of National Modern Agricultural Industrial Technology System (NYCYTXGXCXTD-03-01), Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Province (2014GXNSFAA118105) and Funding from Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences (2012YZ15).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
Author Zhen-Qiang Qin has received research grants from Agriculture Department of Guangxi Province, Science and Technology Department of Guangxi Province, Agricultural Sciences of Guangxi Academy. Authors Jin-Ju Wei, Xiu-Peng Song, Ya-Wei Luo, Lu Liu are one of the members of the Guangxi Sugarcane Innovation Team of National Modern Agricultural Industrial Technology System. Authors Jin-Ju Wei and Zhan-Yun Deng are one of the members of the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Province and Funding from Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences. We all have involved this study. We declare that we have no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Qin, ZQ., Wei, JJ., Song, XP. et al. Efficacy of the Ladybird Beetle Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant for Control of Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell). Sugar Tech 19, 599–603 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-017-0528-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-017-0528-4