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

Abstract

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 2nd and 3rd instar and 71% for the 4th instar). The 2nd and 3rd instar larvae consumed an average of 51.8 eggs compared to an average of 57.7 eggs consumed by the 4th instar larvae. The 2nd and 3rd instar larvae survived for an average of 5.3 days, while the 4th 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.