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Consumption of Immature Stages of Colorado Potato Beetle by Chrysoperla Carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) Larvae in the Laboratory

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Abstract

The Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), has been an important defoliator of potatoes for 150 years. Although the use of insecticides allowed drastic reductions of CPB populations, resistance development against active substances has been observed. In this context, biological control using predatory larvae of the lacewing may represent a good alternative. CPB egg and larval consumption rates have been evaluated for all Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) instars for 24 h. While first and second C. carnea instars only consumed eggs (1.3 and 1.8), first (1.5 and 2.4) and second (0.6 and 0.8) CPB instars, third instar of lacewing consumed all CPB immature stages: 6.8 CPB eggs, 8.5 first, 4 s, 0.5 third and 0.1 fourth CPB instars. This third instar killed 4-fold more CPB larvae than other larval stages. Handling time for third instar lacewing has been evaluated at 52 min on first instar CPB, 102 min on second instar and 164 min on third instar. Our laboratory assays highlight a potential for lacewing larvae to control CPB immature stages with a greater efficiency on young CPB larval stages. Fields assays are however needed to confirm efficiency of this CPB natural enemy under field conditions.

Resumen

El escarabajo de la papa de Colorado (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), ha sido un defoliador importante de las papas por 150 años. Aun cuando el uso de insecticidas ha permitido reducciones drásticas en poblaciones de CPB, se ha observado desarrollo de la resistencia contra substancias activas. En este contexto, el control biológico usando larvas predatoras de crisopas pudiera representar una buena alternativa. Se han evaluado los niveles de consumo de huevos y larvas de CPB para todos los instares de Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) por 24 hs. Mientras el primero y segundo instars de C. carnea solo consumieron huevos (1.3 y 1.8), primero (1.5 y 2.4) y segundo (0.6 y 0.8) instares de CPB, el tercer instar de crisopa consumió todos los estados inmaduros de CPB: 6.8 huevos de CPB, 8.5 primero, 4 segundo, 0.5 tercero y 0.1 cuarto instares de CPB. Este tercer instar mató cuatro veces mas larvas de CPB que otros estadíos larvales. Se ha evaluado el manejo del tiempo para el tercer instar de crisopa a 52 minutos del primer instar de CPB, 102 min en el segundo instar y 164 min en el tercer instar. Los ensayos de nuestro laboratorio resaltan un potencial de las larvas de crisopa para controlar los estados inmaduros de CPB con una eficiencia mayor en los estadíos larvales jóvenes de CPB. No obstante, se necesitan ensayos de campo para confirmar la eficiencia de este enemigo natural de CPB bajo condiciones de campo.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Pierre Le Bivic (Department of Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech) for his participation in experiments, Yves Brostaux (Department of Statistic and Computer Science, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech) for his advice in statistics, Frederic Dresen (Department of Plant Pathology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech) for his daily maintenance of plant material. We also thank the CURAGx (Centre universitaire de recherche en agronomie et ingénierie biologique de Gembloux) for financial support granted to Ludovic Sablon.

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Sablon, L., Haubruge, E. & Verheggen, F.J. Consumption of Immature Stages of Colorado Potato Beetle by Chrysoperla Carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) Larvae in the Laboratory. Am. J. Potato Res. 90, 51–57 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-012-9275-y

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