The species Pentilia egena Mulsant is an important predator of armored scales that occur in citrus orchards in Brazil. To intensify this biological control, knowing bioecological aspects in necessary for the improvement of massal insect rearing. This research investigated the influence of temperature (19C, 24C and 29C) on the number of eggs laid by P. egena and the number of Aspidiotus nerii Bo...

The genus Microserangium Chapinfrom China is reviewed. Nine species are recognized, including seven new species: M. erythrinum Wang & Ren, sp. n., M. fuscum Wang & Ren, sp. n., M. glossoides Wang & Ren, sp. n., M. shennongensis Wang & Ren, sp. n., M. semilunatum Wang & Ren, sp. n., M. deltoides Wang & Ren, sp. n., M. dactylicum Wang & Ren, sp. n. Male genitalia of M. hainanensis Miyatake, 1961 ...

Predators are generally considered to be less effective biological control agents than parasites (DeBach, 1964). The famous exception is the control of the cottony-cushion scale, Icerya purchasi Maskell, by the ladybird beetle Rodolia cardinalis (Mulsant). This outstanding success resulted in the widespread and haphazard introduction of ladybird beetles. However, aphidophagous species of ladybi...

The coccinellid Harmonia axyridis is a recent arrival in the UK and is an intraguild predator of the entomopathogenic fungus Pandora neoaphidis. Harmonia axyridis entirely consumes P. neoaphidis-sporulating cadavers and this may have a negative effect on the epizootic potential of P. neoaphidis. Here we assessed within plant transmission, and between plant vectoring, of P. neoaphidis in the pre...

The first attempt by man at classical biological control of an arthropod pest was a spectacular success. The cottony cushion scale (Icerya purchasi Maskell) program in California over the period 1877-1879 was the first scientifically and institutionally backed biological control program. Foreign exploration by Arthur Koebele, resulted in the importation and release of two natural enemies, the v...

Growing evidence exists that aposematic and toxic prey may be included in a predator's diet when the predator experiences physiological stress. The tree sparrow Passer montanus is known to have a significant portion of aposematic and toxic ladybirds in its natural diet. Here, we present experiments testing the attack and eating rate of the tree sparrow toward the invasive aposematic harlequin l...

Dinocampus coccinellae (Schrank) is a braconid parasitoid of ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and has exceptionally wide geographical host ranges. Based on published unpublished sources probably occurs throughout the temperate, subtropical tropical climatic zones, but some regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa (except its southernmost part) Malay Archipelago, have not so far been surv...

Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) is an Asian coccinellid released in several places to act as a biological control agent of aphids. Dinocampus coccinellae (Schrank, 1802) is an endoparasite that uses more than 40 coccinellid species as hosts. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the interactions between D. coccinellae and H. axyridis and to determine the impact of the parasitoid on th...