Oviposition and predation of Pentilia egena mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in response to temperature

Abstract

The species Pentilia egena Mulsant is an important predator of armored scales that occur in citrus orchards in Brazil. To intensify this biological control, knowing bioecological aspects in necessary for the improvement of massal insect rearing. This research investigated the influence of temperature (19ºC, 24ºC and 29ºC) on the number of eggs laid by P. egena and the number of Aspidiotus nerii Bouché scales preyed by this coccinellid. The highest number of eggs laid and of scales preyed, 5.1 ± 0.59 and 11.3 ± 0.19, respectively, occurred at 29ºC. However, egg viability (52.86%) was reduced at this temperature, and was lower than those at 19ºC and 24ºC (78.10% and 74.07%, respectively). Temperature did not affect the ladybeetle oviposition behavior as the eggs were laid under the scale of preyed A. nerii.