The voracity of five insect predators on Bactericera cockerelli (Sülc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae) (tomato potato psyllid; TPP)

ABSTRACTThe potential of two native and three exotic insect predators residing in potato crops at Pukekohe to control Bactericera cockerelli (tomato potato psyllid; TPP) was assessed in no-choice and choice voracity laboratory assays. Rates of consumption and ability to predate on different life stages of B. cockerelli compared with the aphid species Myzus persicae were examined. All five species, brown lacewing (Micromus tasmaniae), small hoverfly (Melanostoma fasciatum), Pacific damsel bug (Nabis kinbergii), 11-spotted ladybird beetle (Coccinella undecimpunctata) and large spotted ladybird beetle (Harmonia conformis) ate all life stages of B. cockerelli even in the presence of aphids. Eggs of B. cockerelli were the least preferred by all predator species except for N. kinbergii in no-choice assays. The smallest tested life stages of each of the two commonly occurring native predators, M. tasmaniae and M. fasciatum, were capable of eating more than 12 small B. cockerelli nymphs in 24 h. These species may...