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Q&A ViewAttendees 2

Plant-Insect Ecosystems

10-Minute Paper

P-IE: Biocontrol

Predators vs. Alien: Evaluating insect predators for use against the exotic mealybug Nipaecoccus viridis

Sunday, October 31, 2021
3:18 PM – 3:30 PM MT
Location: Colorado Convention Center, Meeting Room 108-110
In-Person

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Eric Middleton

    Postdoctoral Researcher
    University of Florida
    Winter Haven, Florida

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Lauren M. Diepenbrock

    Assistant Professor of Entomology & Citrus Entomology Extension Specialist
    University of Florida
    Lake Alfred, Florida

Nipaecoccus viridis, also known as hibiscus mealybug, is an emerging pest in Florida citrus that has rapidly spread across much of the state. Hibiscus mealybug can cause fruit damage and branch dieback, and has historically been difficult to control with applications of insecticide. Because of this, determining what commercially available and naturally occurring predators prey on hibiscus mealybug is an important part of an integrated pest management program. We evaluated 5 commercially available predators, and 4 naturally occurring and lab reared predators to assess which would prey on larval hibiscus mealybugs as well as adult females with ovisacs. Single predators were starved for 24 hrs, and placed in petri dishes with mealybug larvae or ovisacs, and monitored over 3 days. For commercially available predators, only Cyptolaemus montrouzieri reliably consumed ovisacs and high numbers of larvae. Chrysoperla carnea ate a comparable number of larvae to C. montrouzieri, but would not consume ovisacs. Hippodamia convergens, Adalia bipunctata, and Orius insidiosus would only occasionally consume larvae, and also did not consume ovisacs. For naturally occurring and lab reared predators, Ceraeochrysa sp. reliably consumed ovisacs and high numbers of larvae, while Diomus sp. only consumed early instar larvae. Coccinella septempunctata and Olla v-nigrum only occasionally consumed larvae, and did not consume ovisacs. Cryptolaemus montrouzieri shows promise for augmentative biological control of hibiscus mealybug, while preserving naturally occurring Ceraeochrysa sp. may aid in conservation biological control.