Biological control with Hyperaspis pantherina Fürsch (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) to control Orthezia insignis Browne (Homoptera: Ortheziidae) on blue jacaranda

Abstract

The Jacaranda trees and other ornamental plants used in sidewalks and gardenlike areas of sidewalks and other gardened areas of the downton Capital city of Madeira Island (Funchal), are infested by the Jacaranda or Lantana Bug, Orthezia insignis Browne. A ladybird, Hyperaspis pantherina Fürsch, was imported from Kenya to control this pest. This ladybird is a specific predator of O. insignis and it has been used, successfully in biological control programs, in several countries of Africa, in Peru, Hawaii and in Santa Helena Island. In Madeira Island, H. pantherina is being reared in laboratory and released into infested jacarandas since July 2002, in a classical biological control way.

The releasing of H. pantherina is described in detail as well as the adopted monitoring system to verify its acclimation.