Suitability of non-natural prey during the larval growth of Heteroneda billardieri (Crotch), a potential predator of mango leafhopper

A. Badrulhadza, L.R.I. Velasco and C.dR. Medina

Abstract
Mango leafhopper (MLH), Idioscopus clypealis Lethierry (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is naturally controlled by a predator beetle named Heteroneda billardieri (Crotch) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Mango leafhopper is used to rear H. billardieri with regards to biological control efforts. However, an alternative prey is needed in order to boost the mass rearing process of the beetle. Therefore, different prey species were selected along with artificial diets to study their effect on the growth and development of H. billardieri larvae. Two non-natural prey species, the cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch and leucaena psyllid, Heteropsylla cubana Crawford were tested along with MLH and artificial diets. All types of diets were accepted by the predator but their suitability was varied. The artificial diets were not suitable for larval development and psyllid was the least suitable when provided alone. However, simultaneous feeding of prey together with artificial diets significantly affected growth and development of H. billardieri compared to feeding with a single prey or artificial diets only except when the larvae were fed with aphids alone. The larval development and survival were best when fed just with a single diet of aphids suggesting that aphids can serve as the best alternative non-natural prey during the larval stage of growth, especially when the availability of MLH is limited.

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