Are the ladybugs Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and Exochomus quadripustulatus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) candidate predators of Toumeyella parvicornis (Hemiptera: Coccidae)?

Toumeyella parvicornis is an alien pest of recent introduction in Italy that infests stone pines (Pinus pinea L.), its main host plant in Europe. Infestations are currently controlled through endotherapic treatments, but the high costs and the long-term inefficacy highlight the need for alternative control strategies applicable in natural systems as well. An analysis of the effectiveness of autochthonous and naturalized predators is the first step to achieve this goal. This work focused on two candidate predators, Exochomus quadripustulatus and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), that may potentially control T. parvicornis. The analysis was carried out under laboratory-controlled and semi-field conditions.

Subjects

tortoise scale

biological control

ladybug

stone pine;

urban forestry

Handle

http://hdl.handle.net/2067/50846

File(s)

Name

Pest Management Science - 2024 - Di Sora - Are the ladybugs Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and Exochomus quadripustulatus .pdf

Description

Pubblicazione

Size

2.35 MB

Format

Adobe PDF

Checksum (MD5)

27d980b0889af273a9afbf5e2c135aeb