Biologia comparada de estágios imaturos de Ceraeochrysa cornuta (NAVÁS) E Leucochrysa (Nodita) sp. (NEUROPTERA: CHRYSOPIDAE) alimentados com ovos de Ephestia kuehniella ZELLER (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE)

Abstract

Lacewings, known as generalist predators, are important biological control agents for agricultural pests. Species of the genera Ceraeochrysa and Leucochrysa are particularly effective against mealybugs, aphids, whiteflies, mites, among others, with greater predation efficiency occurring between the second and third instars. In this context, the objective of this work was to perform the comparative biology of immature stages of Ceraeochrysa cornuta (Navás) and Leucochrysa (Nodita) sp. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) fed with eggs of the meal moth Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), as well as determining their survival and sex ratio in the laboratory. The experiments were carried out at the UEMA Entomology Laboratory under controlled conditions. Newly hatched larvae of C. cornuta and Leucochrysa sp were used. (< 24h old). The experimental units consisted of Petri dishes, containing a wad of hydrophilic cotton moistened with distilled water at one end of the dish; and at the opposite end, E. kuehniella eggs were added ad libitum throughout the larval stage. The duration (days) of the 1st instar of Leucochrysa sp. was higher than that observed for C. cornuta. When consuming eggs of E. kuehniella, Leucochrysa sp. showed a longer duration of the 2nd larval instar (4.42±0.13 days) compared to that recorded for 2nd instar larvae of C. cornuta. However, the duration of the 3rd instar of Leucochrysa sp. was lower in contrast to that recorded for the same developmental stage of C. cornuta. The pupal period of Leucochrysa sp. differed from that observed for C. cornuta. Additionally, the total larval development of Leucochrysa sp. was greater than that recorded for C. cornuta. In the pupal period and in total larval development there was a reduction in survival of the order of 86.67 and 80% for C. cornuta and Leucochrysa sp., respectively. There was no change in the expected sex ratio of 1:1 (males and females) for C. cornuta and Leucochrysa sp. fed with E. kuehniella eggs during the evaluation period. The results confirm the nutritional suitability of the eggs of the meal moth E. kuehniella in the development of immature stages of C. cornuta and Leucochrysa sp. Therefore, the exclusive supply of E. kuehniella eggs makes it possible to mass breed C. cornuta and Leucochrysa sp. in the laboratory. Furthermore, survival was high for both lacewing species evaluated. Finally, the expected sex ratio of 1:1 of (males and females) C. cornuta and Leucochrysa sp. was obtained in the experiment