Branco, M., Sousa, C., Bernat, M., Jactel, H., & Franco, J.C. 2008 Suitability of five prey regimes for the development of the coccinellid Iberorhyzobius rondensis.. Proceedings of the XI International Symposium on Scale Insect Studies, Oeiras, Portugal, 24-27 September 2007. ISA Press Lisbon, Portugal 322 pp.

Notes: The effects on the larval development of Iberorhyzobius rondensis Eizaguirre (Col: Coccinellidae) of five hemipteran prey regimes were quantified: 1) eggs of Planococcus citri (Pseudococddae); 2) adults and nymphs of Cinara maritimae (Lachnidae); 3) eggs of Icerya purchasi (Margarodidae); 4) eggs of Matsucoccus feytaudi (Matsucoccidae), and 5) no food. Larvae on each prey regime larvae, starting from L1, 2nd, 3rd and 4th instar, were reared until the adult stage, except for when the prey regime consisted on eggs of Matsucoccus feytaudi, when larvae starting from 1st and 2nd instars were tested. Larvae fed from the L1 instar were unable to complete development on any prey diet, except when reared on M. feytaudi eggs, when only 25% mortality was observed. With 2nd instar larvae, 100% died when reared on I. purchasi eggs, 96 % when without food, 86 % when fed on P. citri eggs, 73 % on C. maritimae, and 0% when fed on M. feytaudi eggs. With 3rd instar larvae, 80% died when reared with no food, 38% when fed on the eggs of I. purchasi, 11% when fed on P. citri eggs and 9%, and on C. maritimae. These food regimes did not cause significant differences on the mortality of 4th instar larvae, with more than 80% of larvae on all regimes surviving. Development was completed in 38.7±1.1 days at 22°C± 1°C, on the M. feytaudi prey regime. These results indicate that I. rondensis depends on M. feytaudi to complete its development. However, mature larvae could use alternative prey, in particular C. maritimae, which is frequent in Pinus pinaster stands.