Laboratory study of predation by Curinus coeruleus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on eggs of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)

The lady beetle, Curinus coeruleus (Mulsant), a biological control agent of the coconut mealybug, Nipaecoccus nipae (Maskell) and the psyllid, Heteropsylla cubana Crawford, was examined for its ability to consume Aedes albopictus (Skuse) eggs in the laboratory. Most C. coeruleus larvae in this test preyed on A. albopictus eggs (75% for the 2 and 3 instar and 71% for the 4 instar). The 2 and 3 instar larvae consumed an average of 51.8 eggs compared to an average of 57.7 eggs consumed by the 4 instar larvae. The 2 and 3 instar larvae survived for an average of 5.3 days, while the 4 instar larvae survived for an average of 5.6 days. Curinus coeruleus could not complete its life cycle by feeding only on A. albopictus eggs. Aedes albopictus eggs, which are available year round in Hawaii, may be a supplemental food source for C. coeruleus larvae when there is a shortage of psyllids.