Prey Size Preference for Diaphorina Citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) In Six Chrysopidae Species (Neuroptera)

Abstract

Diaphorina citri, the vector of Candidatus Liberibacter spp., is attacked in the American continent by diverse species of generalist predators that could be used in biological control programs; among them, green lacewings stand out because of their abundance and high frequency in citrus areas where D. citri occurs. In the present study, the preference in prey size by larvae of Chrysoperla comanche, C. externa, C. rufilabris, Ceraeochrysa cincta, Ce. claveri and Ce. valida (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) was determined in choice and no-choice experiments. The number of nymphs consumed by each larval instar was registered during a 6-hour period; data was analyzed using ANOVA and Manly's preference index (β). The results showed that species of Chrysoperla and Ceraeochrysa in their three larval instars consumed different sizes of D. citri nymphs, although they showed a tendency to consume small nymphs (I and II instars). The third larval instar of Chrysoperla externa, C. rufilabris, C. comanche, Ceraeochrysa cincta, and Ce. claveri, was the most voracious. The results showed that both genera of green lacewings voraciously consumed D. citri nymphs, thus showing the potential of this species to be considered for biological control programs of this insect.