Adaptation of Rodolia cardinalis (Mulsant) (Col., Coccinellidae) to Icerya aegyptiaca (Douglas) (Hom., Margrodidae) as compared with Icerya purchasi Mask

Abstract

The Coccinellid beetle, Rodolia cardinalis (Mulsant), was introduced into Egypt in 1902 to control Icerya purchasi Mask. Developmental stages of R. cardinalis have been found to be associated with populations of Icerya aegyptiacu (Douglas) on Ficus nitida trees in the Mansoura district of Egypt. The present work throws more light on the adaptation of this predator when feeding on Icer-ya aeg-vptiuca as compared with feeding on I. purchmi. Choice of prey type was found to have a marked effect on egg coloration but appears to have no effect on hatching success or incubation period. The development of R . cavdinalis larvae when reared in culture on I. aegyptiaca was significantly faster than that fed on I. purchasi. The fecundity of R . cardinalis females was not affected by the prey type consumed as adults, and although the longevity of males and females was shorter in association with I. purchasi, this difference was not significant. The results indicate that R . cardinalis is well adapted to I . aegyptiacu in Egypt. -, 1953: Review of biological control of Coccidae on coconut palms in Seychelles. Bul. Ent. Res. 44, 405413. VIGGIANI, G. 1989: Thank you Rodolia: a century success. Informatore Agrario. 45,49-51.

A case of ecological specialization in ladybirds:Iberorhyzobius rondensis(Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), potential biocontrol agent ofMatsucoccus feytaudi(Hemiptera: Matsucoccidae)

“…Rhyzobius lophanthae is polyphagous, feeding on Diaspididae and Pseudococcidae and is present in many different ecosystems, having been introduced in many areas around the world for biological control (Stathas, 2000). Furthermore, in general specificity does not appear to be characteristic of the taxonomic group Coccidulinae, but rather more of the coccidophagous guild: e.g., Coelophora quadrivittata Fauvel, Hyperaspis egregia Fürsch, Hyperaspis pantherina Fürsch, Rodatus major Blackburn, Scymnus mediterraneus Iablokoff-Khnzorian, and R. cardinalis (Chazeau, 1981; Richards, 1985; Ragab, 1995; Ackonor & Mordjifa, 1999; Fowler, 2004). Some exceptions are Diomus thoracicus Fabricius which is myrmecophagous with a parasitic mode of living (Vantaux et al , 2010), and Anisolemnia dilatata Fabricius which feeds on the woolly aphid Ceratovacuna silvestrii Takahashi on bamboo plants (Majumder & Agarwala, 2013).…”

Exotic ladybirds for biological control of herbivorous insects – a review

“…Rodolia cardinalis is considered the most effective among the ladybirds released (Table 2) as it completely controlled I. purchasi in several countries and Icerya aegyptiaca (Douglas) (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae) in parts of Africa (Ragab, 1995; reviewed by Cock et al, 2010). The Australian C. montrouzieri was used for the first time in 1908 to control Planococcus citri (Risso) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) mealybug in Italy and is considered established in almost all the countries where it was intentionally introduced against mealybugs (Roy & Migeon, 2010; Kairo et al, 2013).…”

Production of Coleopteran Predators

“…l There is evidence that generalist (polyphagous) coleopteran predators can undergo adaptation to specific prey after several generations of exposure, at least in the laboratory (Rana et al, 2002). Adaptation to new prey also occurs in specialist (oligophagous) coccinellids (Ragab, 1995;Causton et al, 2004) and carabids (Weber et al, 2006;Weber and Riddick, 2011). More research is necessary to predict which species are most likely to adapt to an arthropod-free artificial diet.…”