Several aspects of growth and feeding of C. paludica have been assessed in two different environments: a lenitic and a lotic hydrosystem, Portil lagoon and Rivera de Cala river respectively. Growth patterns showed some differences with Iberian loach growing slower in the lagoon than in the river. Because of this, although individuals of both populations reach sexual maturity in their second year (year-class 1+), specimens of lagoon population mature at smaller sizes. The C. paludica population in the river showed a better somatic condition than in the lagoon. In both hydrosystems, their diet was mainly chironomid larvae and ostracods, although the Portil lagoon Iberian loach population showed a clear trophic segregation between young of the year (year-class 0+) and sexually matures individuals (year-class ≥ 1+).
Duponchelia fovealis Zeller is a polyphagous insect that has been recently reported attacking strawberry plants (Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne). Despite its economic importance there are few studies on this pest because it is difficult to rear it in the laboratory. With a constant supply of insects, studies on alternative methods of pest control can be conducted. This study aimed at developing an artificial diet for rearing D. fovealis with biological characteristics similar to those reared on their natural diet. This study was carried out in a climate-controlled room (25°C ± 2°C, RH 70% ± 10%, and 14L : 10D). The natural diet consisted of 'San Andreas' strawberry leaves (D1), while the artificial diet (D2) was developed in which beans, casein, soy protein, yeast and wheat germ are used as sources of protein. Five instars were identified. D. fovealis completed its life cycle in 38 and 40 days when fed D1 and D2, respectively. Survival was highest for the larvae fed the artificial diet. Females fed D1 lay a mean of 300.2 ± 62.3 eggs, while those fed D2, 220.3 ± 41.8 eggs. The artificial diet is suitable for the continuous rearing of D. fovealis in the laboratory., Maria A. C. Zawadneak, Rodrimar B. Gonçalves, Alex S. Poltronieri, Bráulio Santos, Adélia M. Bischoff, Aline M. Borba, Ida C. Pimentel., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Setothosea asigna van Eecke is a dominant defoliator pest in oil palm plantations. To control this pest, a generalist predatory bug, Sycanus annulicornis Dohrn, was used as it is easy to rear on several different species of prey. In this study, we evaluated the influence of different prey on the biology and the ability of S. annulicornis to attack and kill the nettle caterpillar pest S. asigna. Based on laboratory rearing, the larvae of Crocidolomia pavonana F. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is a suitable prey for both the growth and development of S. annulicornis, as its nymphal development is shorter (74.0 ± 7.3 days) and adult longevity longer (81.0 ± 9.0 days for male and 64.8 ± 12.4 days for female, respectively) than when reared on the larvae of Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) (44.0 ± 16.7 days for male and 52.6 ± 14.4 days for female). However, S. annulicornis reared on T. molitor larvae attacked 2.0-2.2 larvae of S. asigna per day, which is more than the 1.6-1.7 larvae per day of those reared on C. pavonana, which indicates that the larvae of T. molitor are a more effective diet for rearing S. annulicornis as biocontrol agent for the S. asigna., Abdul Sahid, Wahyu D. Natawigena, Hersanti, Sudarjat., and Obsahuje bibliografii