Banca de DEFESA: SINDY STEFANY DOS SANTOS

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : SINDY STEFANY DOS SANTOS
DATE: 06/08/2026
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: Google Meet
TITLE:

Development and reproduction of two Ceraeochrysa Species (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) fed on Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

KEY WORDS:

Citrus blackfly; lacewings; predation; citriculture

PAGES: 60
BIG AREA: Ciências Agrárias
AREA: Agronomia
SUBÁREA: Fitotecnia
SUMMARY:

The citrus blackfly (CBF), Aleurocanthus woglumi (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is a major pest of citrus crops worldwide. Ceraeochrysa cincta (Schneider) and Ceraeochrysa claveri (Navás) are two Neotropical lacewing species commonly found in citrus orchards; however, their potential as biological control agents of A. woglumi has not yet been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the biological performance of the immature and adult stages of C. cincta and C. claveri when fed fourth-instar female nymphs of A. woglumi under laboratory conditions. The experiment was conducted at the Laboratory of Biological Control of Phytophagous Insects (LACOBIF), located at the Integrated Pest Management Center (CIMP) of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), using a completely randomized design. Four treatments were evaluated, consisting of two lacewing species (C. cincta and C. claveri) and two prey types (fourth-instar female nymphs of CBF and Ephestia kuehniella eggs). Larvae of both lacewing species were obtained from eggs originating from stock colonies maintained at LACOBIF. Each treatment was initiated with 30 first-instar larvae, totaling 120 individuals. Prey were supplied at rates of 15, 25, and 45 nymphs per larva during the first, second, and third instars, respectively, with prey replacement every 24 h. As a positive control, 1 mg of E. kuehniella eggs was provided every 48 h. CBF nymphs were obtained through daily collections of infested leaves from Citrus spp. plants in Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Biological parameters of the larval, pupal, and adult stages were evaluated. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), and variables meeting the assumptions of the analysis were compared using Tukey’s test at 5% significance. Variables that did not meet these assumptions were analyzed using the nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis test, followed by Dunn’s multiple-comparisons test at 5% significance. Egg viability and sex ratio were analyzed using the chi-square test (χ²), followed by pairwise comparisons of proportions when applicable. Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism® and R software. Larvae of C. cincta and C. claveri fed CBF nymphs exhibited slower development and lower viability than those fed E. kuehniella eggs. C. cincta was more negatively affected by the target prey, with larvae exhibiting longer instar durations and lower survival. The reduced number of surviving C. cincta individuals prevented the formation of couples for the evaluation of reproductive performance. In contrast, C. claveri larvae and pupae fed CBF nymphs completed development, resulting in fertile adults that produced viable eggs. Sex ratio did not differ among treatments. The results demonstrate that C. claveri exhibited superior biological performance during the immature and adult stages when its larvae were fed CBF nymphs compared with C. cincta, indicating its potential for the biological control of CBF.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Interna - 2223814 - ELEN DE LIMA AGUIAR MENEZES
Externa à Instituição - HALINA SCHULTZ
Externa à Instituição - PATRÍCIA SOBRAL SILVA