Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Weight and mortality variation of the Hippodamia convergens larvae fed with Myzus persicae raised in kale under different doses of nitrogen

Author(s):

Julio César Guerreiro ¹*, Felipe Augusto Perugini Ferreti ², Valéria Cristina Leite Baccili ³, Tiago Roque Benetoli da Silva ¹, Pedro José Ferreira Filho ⁴

Recieved Date: 2013-11-23, Accepted Date: 2014-01-28

Abstract:

Coccinellids are important predators of agricultural pests in several agriecosystems. Understanding the behaviour of these insects in a behavioural change of their prey is extremely important in pest management. This study aimed to evaluate the weight increase and mortality effect of ladybird Hippodamia convergens fed with Mizus persicae coming from kale (Brassica oleracea). It was developed in pots of 5 dm³ and fertilized with different levels of nitrogen at planting. Four treatments were used, they were 0.0, 2.2, 4.4 and 8.8 g N/pot, values of 0, 50, 100 and 200% of the recommended dose for culture. Newly hatched larvae of H. convergens were isolated in Petri dishes using 20 larvae / treatment. Aphids M. persicae were provided “ad libitum” as food, they came from pots with different levels of nitrogen. At the end of each instar, mortality and weight of larval coccinellids were evaluated. The data was submitted to analysis of variance and means were compared by Tukey test at 5% probability. Tests of polynomial regression were performed between the values of weights of larvae and the nitrogen supplied to plants where the aphids were created. It was observed that the nutritional characteristics of plants could indirectly influence the body weight gain of larvae of H. convergens. Ladybirds that were fed with aphids coming from plants with high nitrogen levels had higher weight gain; however it had no influence on their mortality. Foods richer in nutrients can offer competitive advantages adaptive to coccinellids.

Keywords:

Lady beetle, aphids, IPM

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2014
Volume: 12
Issue: 1
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 294-297

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