ANBAR JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

Abstract

The study was conducted in laboratory at 27 ±2ْ C temperature and 60-70% relative humidity to evaluate the predation efficiency for the predator Clitostethus arcuatus on different stages of Aleuroclava jasmini on citrus leaves. The results showed that predator larvae feed on all immature stages of jasmine whitefly and the predation percentage was increased due to an increase in larval age. The average number of preys per predator larva were 1095.6 eggs, 1124.9 crawlers, 803.1 2nd nymphal instar, 360.8 3rd nymphal instar and 122.1 4th nymphal instar, while the duration of development of larvae were 11.3, 14.1, 14.2, 14.3 and 15.1 days when they feed on eggs, crawlers, 2nd nymphal instar, 3rd nymphal instar and 4th nymphal instar, respectively. The predator adults began to search and feed on preys after about one hour of emergence from pupa stage and prey all stages of jasmine whitefly. The average number of preys consumed by each predator adult during ten days were 1599.3, 1137.1, 644.5, 282.0, 156.3 and 120.2 of eggs, crawlers, 2nd nymphal instar, 3rd nymphal instar , 4th nymphal instar and adult, respectively.