REARING DELPHASTUS CATALINAE (COLEOPTERA: COCCINELLIDAE): PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE AND A MODELING ANALYSIS Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • AbstractDelphastus catalinae (Horn) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) was mass reared to support field studies addressing augmentation and colonization for control of Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) in southern California. Beetles were reared on B. argentifolii infested poinsettia plants grown inside greenhouses located in northern California. Potted plants, reared from rooted cuttings, were cycled through the rearing system over ca. a 12-week period, then discarded. A total of 174 245 adult beetles were harvested over a 20-week period. Each plant averaged 46 adult beetles (range 2189) over the same period of time. Harvesting strategies were investigated using a computer simulation model based upon published and hypothesized reproduction and survivorship parameters. Results suggest that removal of approximately 50% of adults per week produced a stable and maximum production of beetles. Actual harvest rates were between 40 and 60% of available beetles. The cost of producing each adult was estimated at US$0.22, with the major cost being labor at 86% of the total.

published proceedings

  • The Canadian Entomologist

author list (cited authors)

  • Pickett, C. H., Casanave, K. A., Schoenig, S. E., & Heinz, K. M.

citation count

  • 10

complete list of authors

  • Pickett, CH||Casanave, KA||Schoenig, SE||Heinz, KM

publication date

  • January 1999