Biology and feeding behaviour of the coccinellid Hyperaspis notata in relation to its prey, the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti

TL;DRAbstract

Biological and behavioural parameters of Hyperaspis notata (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) were investigated.The principal objective was to gain information which could serve as a basis for new releases of this antagonist of the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti (Mat.-Ferr.)(Homoptera: Pseudococcidae), which had been accidentally introduced into the African cassava ecosystem.Since the mass releases of the exotic parasitoid Epidinocarsis lopezi (De Santis) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), population peaks of the pest insect were much reduced.In about 5% of the cassava fields, however, P. manihoti was not reduced efficiently enough to prevent yield losses.After previous releases with alternative antagonist species, H. notata could be recaptured only from certain release sites but, for unknown reasons, not from others.Overall, this predator could be established in only a few places in southern and eastern Africa.Therefore, a study of the biology and searching behaviour was planned, i

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