Natural Enemies Associated with Phaseolus lunatus L. (Fabaceae) in Northeast Brazil

• Published in: The Florida entomologist Vol. 101; no. 4; pp. 688 - 691
• Main Authors: França, Solange Maria de, Júnior, Luiz Carlos de Melo, Neto, Antônio Viera Gomes, Silva, Paulo Roberto Ramalho, Lima, Élison Fabrício Bezerra, Melo, José Wagner S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lutz Florida Entomological Society 01.12.2018
• Subjects: Aeolothripidae; Agricultural production; Alcohol; Amblyseius tamatavensis; Aphelinidae; Aphelinus; Aphids; Aphis craccivora; Beans; Caliothrips phaseoli; Citrus; Entomology; Euseius concordis; Feijão fava; fitófagos; Franklinothrips vespiformis; Identification; Insect larvae; Insect pests; Insects; Legumes; Lima bean; Mites; Natural enemies; Parasites; Parasitic diseases; Parasitism; parasitoid; parasitoide; Parasitoids; Pests; Phaseolus lunatus; phytophagous; Phytophagous insects; Phytoseiidae; Plant sciences; predatores; Predators; Predatory mites; Prey; Proctolaelaps bickleyi; Pseudodoros clavatus; SCIENTIFIC NOTES; Scymnus rubicundus; Seeds; Soybeans; Syrphidae; Tetranychus neocaledonicus; South America; Brazil
• DOI: 10.1653/024.101.0408
• ISSN: 0015-4040

In Brazil, characterization of the natural occurrence of insect predators and parasites affecting phytophagous pests of Phaseolus lunatus is limited. Our objective was to identify which natural enemies were present in lima bean fields in northeast Brazil. Also, this is the first report of the natural occurrence of thrips and mite predators on lima bean. The following species were identified as predators of Aphis craccivora: Scymnus rubicundus (Coccinelidae), Pseudodoros clavatus (Syrphidae), as well as the parasitoid Aphelinus sp. (Aphelinidae). In addition, Franklinothrips vespiformis (Aeolothripidae) was collected along with its prey, the phytophagous mite Tetranychus neocaledonicus, and the phytophagous thrips Caliothrips phaseoli. Predatory mites were identified as Euseius concordis (Phytoseiidae), Proctolaelaps bickleyi (Ascidae), and Amblyseius tamatavensis (Phytoseiidae). These 3 mite species were observed to prey on T. neocaledonicus and represents the first report of these predators occurring on P. lunatus in Brazil.