Whitefly Species Preferences of the Predatory Ladybird Beetle, Delphastus pallidus LeConte (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).

ABSTRACT: Delphastus Casey (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Serangiini) comprises small predatory ladybird beetles that feed on immature whiteflies. Several Delphastus species are utilized as biological control agents. However, Delphastus pallidus (LeConte) has been understudied for the past several decades. Recent landscape surveys in South Florida revealed a marked increase in D. pallidus populations associated with multiple whitefly species. We evaluated whitefly species preferences of D. pallidus using choice and no-choice assays conducted in incubators and insectaries. Seven whitefly species were confirmed as prey and ranked in order of preference: Bemisia tabaci Gennadius > Aleurothrixus trachoides (=Aleurotrachelus trachoides) (Back) > Sin

SUBMITTER: Ahmed MZ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12841646 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature