Is the seven-point ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) effective in the biological control of the whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum)?

Abstract

The objective of the research was to evaluate the effectiveness of the seven-spot ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata) as an agent biological control of the whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) in the cultivation of lemon (Citrus lemon). We used a Completely Random Design (DCA), a control (without seven-spotted ladybug) and a treatment (with seven-spotted ladybug), with nine repetitions. The number of whitefly consumed in the different larval stages (L1, L2, L3 and L4) and in the adult age of the seven-spot ladybug was determined. Being the larval stage L4, L3 and the adult stage the states of highest consumption of whitefly per day with 229, 108 and 87 respectively. Also, it was determined that each adult whitefly puts 360 eggs on average and in 6,06 days doubles its population. The results showed that the seven-spot ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata) is an effective biological controller of the whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) in the cultivation of lemon (Citrus lemon). It feeds on 504,11 aphids on average throughout their life and in 30 days approximately reduces the whitefly population to near zero amounts.