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Functional response of Chrysoperla externa (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) to two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae): Implications for biological control

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 June 2025

Enes Pereira Barbosa ,
Josy Aparecida dos Santos ,
Eder de Oliveira Cabral ,
Bruno Gomes Dami ,
Felipe Breda Alves ,
Vinícius de Oliveira Lima ,
Agda Braghini  and
Alessandra Marieli Vacari Open the ORCID record for Alessandra Marieli Vacari [Opens in a new window]
Enes Pereira Barbosa
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Entomology, University of Franca (UNIFRAN), Franca, São Paulo, Brazil Emater, Claraval, MG, Brazil
Josy Aparecida dos Santos
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Entomology, University of Franca (UNIFRAN), Franca, São Paulo, Brazil São Martinho Mill, Pradópolis, SP, Brazil
Eder de Oliveira Cabral
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Entomology, University of Franca (UNIFRAN), Franca, São Paulo, Brazil
Bruno Gomes Dami
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Entomology, University of Franca (UNIFRAN), Franca, São Paulo, Brazil DND Química, Barrinha, SP, Brazil
Felipe Breda Alves
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Entomology, University of Franca (UNIFRAN), Franca, São Paulo, Brazil
Vinícius de Oliveira Lima
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Entomology, University of Franca (UNIFRAN), Franca, São Paulo, Brazil
Agda Braghini
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Entomology, University of Franca (UNIFRAN), Franca, São Paulo, Brazil Biotrop, Vinhedo, SP, Brazil
Alessandra Marieli Vacari*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Entomology, University of Franca (UNIFRAN), Franca, São Paulo, Brazil
*
Corresponding author: Alessandra Marieli Vacari; Email: alessandra.vacari@unifran.edu.br
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Abstract

The predator Chrysoperla externa (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) has great potential for its use in biological pest control programs. In order to assist future biological control programs that use Chrysopidae as a control agent, this research aims to study the behaviour of the green lacewing, C. externa, consuming two-spotted spider mites, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae). In the laboratory, experiments were carried out to determine the predation behaviour of C. externa on different densities of adults of the two-spotted spider mite, T. urticae (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 prey). For comparison purposes, the behaviour of C. externa was also studied using eggs from the alternative prey Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The functional response was determined by logistic regression of the number of mites consumed as a function of the initial number of prey using polynomial logistic regression. The random equation was used to describe the parameters of the functional response. The predator C. externa showed a type II functional response consuming both E. kuehniella eggs and T. urticae adults. The results obtained will allow to define the best strategy for the use of green lacewings in the biological control of the two-spotted spider mite, T. urticae.

Keywords

biological controlgreen lacewingintegrated pest managementpredator–prey interactionsFunctional response

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Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , First View , pp. 1 - 5
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© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press.

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