DEVELOPMENT OF Coleomegilla maculata DE GEER (COLEOPTERA: COCCINELLIDAE) WITH PREY AND ARTIFICIAL DIET

Abstract

Coleomegilla maculata De Geer (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is an important predator and the potential for biological control of insect pests of maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. This study aimed to evaluate the development of larvae of C. maculata fed eggs Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) alone or associated with artificial diet, eggs of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and nymphs of Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). The experimental design was completely randomized design with 10 replications, each with four larvae of C. maculata in a room (25 ± 1 º C, 70 ± 10% RH and photophase of 12 hours). The duration of the stages of C. maculata was similar in all treatments, except one that was used nymphs of S. graminum, resulting in a shorter period for the larval stage. The viability of the larval stage, prepupal, pupal and larval to adult C. maculata was high and similar in all treatments. There is no effect on the weight of adults of C. maculata, except for the heavier insects fed on eggs of A. kuehniella, whose males and females weighed, 9.8 ± 0.3 mg, and 13.3 ± 0.5 mg, respectively. Therefore, based on laboratory results, the predator can be evaluated in the field in pest management program against to both S. frugiperda and S. graminum. Advance in the methodology of rearing the predator in the laboratory can be obtained through the use of artificial diet (honey, yeast, ascorbic acid, propionic acid, nipagin and water) associated with eggs of A. kuehniella.