Journal of Taiwan Agricultural Research

Author:Yaw-Jen Dong and Pei-Chen Hsu*

Abstract:

    This study investigated the effects of feeding with wood oil tree (Vernicia montana Lour) extrafloral nectar on survival of two lacewings, Mallada basalis Walker and Mallada desjardinsi Navás. Significant higher survival time of M. basalis and M. desjardinsi larvae as well as adults were found on the extrafloral nectar treatment than that on the water and blank treatments. Feeding with wood oil tree extrafloral nectar prolonged substantial longevity of M. basalis and M. desjardinsi larvae and adults. However, consumption of wood oil tree extrafloral nectar did not support the larval development and adult oviposition of both lacewings. Predation capacity on the second-stage of cotton aphid nymphs was not different between extrafloral nectar and microcapsule diet treatments. These results revealed that the extrafloral nectar of wood oil tree could effectively increase larval and adult survival time of M. basalis and M. desjardinsi, but did not affect larval predation capacity. The wood oil tree may thus be potential as a supplementary tool for conservation biological control program using M. basalis and M. desjardinsi. However, field tests are necessary to confirm the efficiency of this treatment before further applications.

Key words:Vernicia montana, Extrafloral nectar, Mallada basalis, Mallada desjardinsi, Conservation biological control

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