环斑猛猎蝽对草地贪夜蛾低龄幼虫的捕食功能分析

为探究环斑猛猎蝽Sphedanolestes impressicollis St?l对草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda Smith的捕食潜能,在室内条件下研究了环斑猛猎蝽4龄若虫对草地贪夜蛾1～3龄幼虫的捕食功能、搜寻效应以及环斑猛猎蝽自身密度对捕食草地贪夜蛾的干扰作用。结果表明：环斑猛猎蝽4龄若虫对草地贪夜蛾低龄幼虫的捕食功能反应符合Holling II模型。环斑猛猎蝽4龄若虫对草地贪夜蛾1龄、2龄、3龄幼虫的瞬时攻击率分别为0.900、1.229和1.259,处理时间分别为0.018 d、0.050 d和0.205 d,日最大捕食量分别为55.897头、19.853头和4.871头。环斑猛猎蝽4龄若虫的搜寻效应与草地贪夜蛾密度呈负相关。环斑猛猎蝽4龄若虫对草地贪夜蛾低龄幼虫的捕食作用率随自身密度的增加而降低。在捕食草地贪夜蛾1龄幼虫时,环斑猛猎蝽4龄若虫自身密度对其捕食能力干扰最大。研究结果表明环斑猛猎蝽4龄若虫对草地贪夜蛾低龄幼虫有一定的捕食能力,为其田间应用释放技术提供了理论依据。     

不同猎物饲喂对南方小花蝽捕食量和喜好性的影响

为探讨南方小花蝽对不同猎物的捕食喜好性,室内用西花蓟马、蚕豆蚜、二斑叶螨、混合饲料(同时饲喂3种猎物)分别饲喂南方小花蝽驯化两代,研究了4种饲喂处理的南方小花蝽初孵若虫、5龄若虫和雌成虫对西花蓟马、蚕豆蚜和二斑叶螨的捕食量和喜好性。结果显示不同猎物饲喂处理驯化的南方小花蝽1龄若虫对同一种猎物的捕食量和喜好性均不存在显著差异。南方小花蝽5龄若虫和雌成虫对某种猎物的捕食量因前期取食的猎物种类不同而有显著差异。南方小花蝽5龄若虫和雌成虫均表现出对西花蓟马2龄若虫的正喜好性。蚕豆蚜饲喂处理的5龄若虫和雌成虫对蚕豆蚜表现出正喜好性,除二斑叶螨饲喂处理外其余3种处理的南方小花蝽5龄若虫和雌成虫均表现出对二斑叶螨的负喜好性。以上结果表明4种饲喂驯化处理的南方小花蝽1龄若虫的喜好性不受前期取食猎物的影响,但5龄若虫和雌成虫对前期取食过的猎物的喜好性增强,存在一定的学习行为。     

小黑瓢虫与两种猎物作用系统研究:选择捕食作用

研究了小黑瓢虫与烟粉虱及红蜘蛛两种猎物作用系统中 ,小黑瓢虫雌成虫对两种猎物卵的选择捕食作用。结果表明 :当两种猎物共存时 ,小黑瓢虫雌成虫对烟粉虱卵在低密度下不表现喜好性 ,而在中等密度和高密度下表现正喜好性 ,对红蜘蛛卵在各密度下均不表现喜好性。对烟粉虱卵的转换效应会由于总猎物密度的不同而呈现不同的效应 ,即在低密度 (15 0粒 )时无转换行为 ,在中等密度 (30 0粒 )时有负转换行为 ,在高密度 (6 0 0粒 )时有正转换行为。而对红蜘蛛卵则在各总猎物密度下均呈现负转换效应。同时组建了两种猎物共存时 ,小黑瓢虫雌成虫对猎物的总捕食作用方程及对每一种猎物类型的捕食作用方程 ,分析了两种猎物共存时 ,小黑瓢虫雌成虫对各猎物寻找效应的变化情况。     

叉角厉蝽对亚洲玉米螟幼虫的捕食功能反应

叉角厉蝽Eocanthecona furcellata是一种在生物防治方面有重要作用和潜力的捕食性天敌昆虫,为探明叉角厉蝽对亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis幼虫的控害潜力,在室内温度26℃±1℃、相对湿度65%±10%、光周期16 L∶8 D条件下,观察了叉角厉蝽4龄、5龄若虫和成虫分别对亚洲玉米螟3龄、4龄幼虫的捕食行为,测定了叉角厉蝽对不同亚洲玉米螟密度下的捕食量、搜寻效应以及自身密度和种间干扰对捕食作用的影响。结果表明,叉角厉蝽对亚洲玉米螟的捕食功能反应符合Holling-Ⅱ功能反应模型,叉角厉蝽3个虫龄对亚洲玉米螟3龄与4龄幼虫的理论最大取食量顺序均为：成虫（30.21头）>5龄若虫（24.69头）>4龄若虫（11.96头）,相同虫龄的叉角厉蝽对亚洲玉米螟3龄幼虫的最大取食量均大于对亚洲玉米螟4龄幼虫的最大取食量。在亚洲玉米螟相同虫龄内,搜寻效应与猎物密度的增加呈负相关。在生存环境和亚洲玉米螟幼虫密度固定的条件下,其平均捕食量和搜寻效应与叉角厉蝽成虫密度的增加呈负相关。叉角厉蝽成虫与亚洲玉米螟幼虫以相同比例增加时,叉角厉蝽成虫种间会产生干扰作用。结果表明了叉角厉蝽对亚洲玉米螟具有较好的控害潜力,为今后高效利用叉角厉蝽田间防治亚洲玉米螟提供了理论依据。     

东亚小花蝽对草地贪夜蛾1龄幼虫的捕食能力

【目的】为明确东亚小花蝽Orius sauteri对草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda幼虫的捕食能力及生物防治潜能。【方法】在室内条件下测定了东亚小花蝽3, 4和5龄若虫以及雌成虫对不同密度的草地贪夜蛾1龄幼虫的捕食能力;采用Holling II模型拟合计算东亚小花蝽对草地贪夜蛾的捕食功能反应和寻找效应。【结果】东亚小花蝽3, 4和5龄若虫以及雌成虫对草地贪夜蛾1龄幼虫的捕食功能反应均符合Holling II模型,东亚小花蝽雌成虫对草地贪夜蛾1龄幼虫的日捕食能力(a′/T_h)最强,为15.85头;最大理论捕食量(1/T_h)最大,为23.26头/d;处理单头猎物所需时间最短,为0.043 d;东亚小花蝽4龄若虫对草地贪夜蛾1龄幼虫的日捕食能力(a′/T_h)最低,仅为10.85头。东亚小花蝽对草地贪夜蛾1龄幼虫的捕食量与猎物密度呈正相关,而寻找效应与猎物密度呈负相关。【结论】研究表明东亚小花蝽对草地贪夜蛾1龄幼虫具有较好的捕食能力。这些研究结果为正确评价东亚小花蝽对草地贪夜幼虫的生防潜能提供了理论依据。     

半田间环境条件下叉角厉蝽对草地贪夜蛾幼虫的捕食能力

为科学评估我国优势天敌昆虫叉角厉蝽Eocanthecona furcellata对重要农业害虫草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda的捕食作用,在笼罩条件下,采用功能反应方法评价了叉角厉蝽3龄和5龄若虫及雌成虫对草地贪夜蛾3龄和5龄幼虫的捕食能力。研究表明,除叉角厉蝽3龄若虫不能独立捕食草地贪夜蛾5龄幼虫外,叉角厉蝽其它虫态对草地贪夜蛾幼虫的捕食量均随猎物密度的升高而增加,捕食率则随猎物密度的升高而逐渐下降,经Logistic回归方程判别为II型功能反应。拟合的Rogers’随机捕食者方程参数表明,叉角厉蝽3龄和5龄若虫及雌成虫对草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫的瞬时攻击率a分别为0.0295、0.0453和0.0965,处置单头猎物的时间Th分别为3.98 h、1.36 h和1.21 h,理论日最大捕食量T/Th分别为6.03头、17.65头和19.83头;叉角厉蝽5龄若虫和雌成虫对草地贪夜蛾5龄幼虫的瞬时攻击率a分别为0.0545和0.0876,处置单头猎物的时间Th分别为3.67 h和4.83 h,理论日最大捕食量T/Th分别为6.54头和4.97头。结果表明,在笼罩条件下叉角厉蝽3龄若虫的捕食能力最弱,除不能有效捕食草地贪夜蛾5龄幼虫外,对草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫的捕食量也远低于5龄若虫和雌成虫,而叉角厉蝽5龄若虫和雌成虫的捕食能力较强,能有效捕食草地贪夜蛾的3龄和5龄幼虫,两者的捕食量相近。研究结果可为合理利用叉角厉蝽防治草地贪夜蛾提供实践参考。     

叉角厉蝽对草地贪夜蛾幼虫的捕食功能反应

草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda(J. E. Smith)是2019年新入侵我国的重大农业害虫,已对我国的农作物产生严重为害,筛选、利用本地天敌控制草地贪夜蛾是实现可持续控制的一个重要途径。叉角厉蝽Eocanthecona furcellate(Wolff)是一种广泛分布于热带、亚热带地区的捕食性天敌,是许多鳞翅目、鞘翅目、半翅目害虫的潜在生防因子。本文采用捕食功能反应方法评价了叉角厉蝽对草地贪夜蛾幼虫的捕食效能。研究结果表明,叉角厉蝽3龄、5龄若虫以及雌、雄成虫对草地贪夜蛾3龄及5龄幼虫的捕食功能反应均符合Holling-Ⅱ方程。在饱和猎物密度条件下,叉角厉蝽各虫态对草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫的平均日最大捕食量依次为32.20头(5龄若虫)19.40头(雌成虫)18.20头(雄成虫)6.60头(3龄若虫),a/Th值(a为瞬时攻击率,Th为处置单头猎物时间)为82.25(5龄若虫)40.39(雌成虫)36.12(雄成虫)17.19(3龄若虫);叉角厉蝽各虫态对草地贪夜蛾5龄幼虫的平均日最大捕食量依次为7.80头(5龄若虫)6.40头(雌成虫)5.50头(雄成虫)4.60头(3龄若虫),a/Th值为11.36(5龄若虫)10.75(雌成虫)9.63(雄成虫)7.45(3龄若虫)。本研究表明叉角厉蝽对草地贪夜蛾幼虫具较强的捕食能力,尤其是5龄若虫、雌成虫和雄成虫。研究结果为利用叉角厉蝽防控草地贪夜蛾提供了理论依据,也为其田间释放应用提供技术支撑。     

人工饲料饲养的叉角厉蝽对昆虫的捕食能力评价

叉角厉蝽Eocanthecona furcellate(Wolff)是广泛分布于热带亚热带地区的一种重要捕食性天敌昆虫。为评估人工饲料饲养的叉角厉蝽的捕食能力,在实验室采用捕食功能反应的方法,以黄粉虫作为中介猎物饲养的叉角厉蝽为对照,评价了人工饲料饲养的叉角厉蝽3龄若虫、5龄若虫以及雌成虫对黄粉虫Tenebriomolitor(L.)幼虫及斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura(Fabricius)3龄幼虫、5龄幼虫的捕食效能。结果表明,两种饲料饲养的不同虫态叉角厉蝽的捕食量均随着猎物密度的增加而上升,当猎物密度增加到一定水平,捕食量趋于稳定,其捕食功能反应均符合HollingII模型。人工饲料组饲养的各虫态叉角厉蝽与对照组的对黄粉虫幼虫的捕食量没有明显差异;在饱和猎物密度条件下,人工饲料饲养的叉角厉蝽3龄若虫、5龄若虫以及雌成虫对斜纹夜蛾3龄幼虫的日最大捕食量分别为7.20、9.20、14.60头,对斜纹夜蛾5龄幼虫的日最大捕食量分别4.20、5.80、6.20头,均略低于对照组,但从取食猎物数量上来看,仍保持较强的捕食能力。     

红彩瑞猎蝽对草地贪夜蛾幼虫的控害能力

为明确红彩瑞猎蝽Rhynocoris fuscipes Fabricius成虫对草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith幼虫的控害潜能,室内条件下研究了不同饥饿时间处理红彩瑞猎蝽对草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫的捕食功能反应、自身密度干扰效应和搜寻效应。结果表明,饥饿0 h、24 h、48 h、72 h和96 h条件下,红彩瑞猎蝽雌、雄成虫对草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫的功能反应符合Holling Ⅱ型功能反应方程;饥饿程度对红彩瑞猎蝽24 h内捕食量影响明显,饥饿48 h和72 h处理的红彩瑞猎蝽对草地贪夜蛾具有更旺盛的捕食欲,其捕食速度曲线分别为v=0.9047-0.0592t+0.009t2和v=1.1512-0.0702t+0.0011t2,对草地贪夜蛾的捕食量随着时间的变化模型分别为Na=20/（1+e1.968-0.79t)和Na=20/（1+e1.689-0.93t）。不同饥饿程度红彩瑞猎蝽搜寻效应随猎物密度的增加而逐渐降低,其个体间竞争和干扰作用与天敌自身密度变化呈正比,符合Hassell-Varley模型。结果表明,红彩瑞猎蝽成虫对草地贪夜蛾幼虫有较好的防治潜力。     

微小花蝽对四种猎物的喜好性

【目的】了解微小花蝽Orius minutus(Linnaeus)对4种主要自然猎物的喜好性。【方法】通过非选择性和选择性试验,室内测定并比较了微小花蝽初孵若虫、刚蜕皮后的5龄若虫和新羽化雌成虫对朱砂叶螨Tetranychus cinnabarinus(Boisduval)成螨、桃蚜Myzus persicae(Sulzer)低龄若虫、西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis(Pergande)2龄若虫和烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)2-3龄若虫的日捕食量和喜好性Ci值。【结果】非选择性试验结果表明,在4种供试猎物中,微小花蝽初孵若虫对西花蓟马2龄若虫和朱砂叶螨成螨的日捕食量为最大,分别为14.20头/d和12.40头/d,刚蜕皮后的5龄若虫和新羽化雌成虫对朱砂叶螨成螨的日捕食量均为最大,分别为44.40头/d和37.20头/d。选择性试验结果表明,微小花蝽初孵若虫对西花蓟马2龄若虫和朱砂叶螨成螨均表现为正喜好性,其喜好性Ci值无显著差异,刚蜕皮后的5龄若虫和新羽化雌成虫对西花蓟马2龄若虫和桃蚜低龄若虫均表现为正喜好性,2者对西花蓟马的喜好性Ci值均显著大于对桃蚜。【结论】微小花蝽日捕食量最大的猎物是朱砂叶螨,其次是西花蓟马,而其最喜好的猎物则是西花蓟马。     

东亚小花蝽对西方花蓟马和二斑叶螨的捕食选择性

多食性天敌对猎物的捕食选择性及猎物密度对天敌捕食的干扰作用直接影响到天敌对不同猎物的控制作用.在实验室条件下研究了东亚小花蝽对西方花蓟马和/或二斑叶螨不同虫态的捕食选择性,以及两猎物中一种猎物的密度变化对小花蝽取食另一种猎物的影响.结果如下:东亚小花蝽5龄若虫和成虫对西方花蓟马2龄若虫的捕食选择性均强于对其成虫,对二斑叶螨的选择性为雌成螨>若螨>幼螨.实验中西方花蓟马2龄若虫是东亚小花蝽最喜好的虫态.二斑叶螨雌成螨密度固定为60头/19.63cm2,西方花蓟马若虫密度从10增加到60时显著地减少了东亚小花蝽对二斑叶螨的取食.反之,固定西方花蓟马同样密度,增加二斑叶螨密度却没有显著改变小花蝽对西方花蓟马的取食.此结果进一步表明,西方花蓟马是东亚小花蝽更喜好的猎物.     

FUCTIONAL RESPONSE AND PLANT PREFERENCE OF NEPHASPIS OCULATUS (COLEOPTERA: COCCINELLIDAE), PREYING ON BEMISIA ARGENTIFOLII (HOMOPTERA: ALEYRODIDM) IN THE LABORATORY

Abstract The predatory behavior and functional response of all larval stages and adults of Nephpis oculatus (Blatchley), a predacious coccinellid, on various egg densities of Bemisia argentgolii Bellows & Pemng, and prey preference of adult N. oculatus , were studied in the laboratory. Daily consumption of eggs of B. argentifolii by N. oculatus was evaluated at six different densities to obtain functional response curves for all active stages of the coccinellid. Bemisia argentifolii eggs were offered to N. oculatus on collard leaf disks in Petri dish arenas over a 24-h period at 26.7 ∀ 2°C: and a photoperiod of 14:10 (L: D) h. Linear relationship were observed between percentage prey consumed and prey density, with r ² values between 0.82–0.99 for all stages except for the fourth instar that had a smaller r² value (0.64). Functional response curves of prey consumption by N. oculatus against density of B. argentifolii eggs fitted the type II model of Holling's disc equation for all larval stages and both the male and female adults. Adult females consumed more prey than adult males. The maximum theoretical number of prey consumed per day increased with larval development. The fourth instar was the most effective larval predator, followed by the third instar, the second instar, and finally, the first instar. Based on the functional response parameters, a maximum of 321, 312, 237, 229, 73, and 34 B. argentifolii eggs could be attacked by an adult female, a fourth instar, an adult male, a third instar, a second instar, and a first instar of N. oculatus , respectively. Nephaspis oculatus adults strongly preferred collard to tomato, soybean, eggplant or sweet-potato for oviposition and foraging. Nephaspis oculatus did not deposit any eggs on soybean and tomato.     

敲减神经肽F基因(npf)对亚洲玉米螟取食、生长发育和繁殖的影响

【目的】神经肽F(neuropeptide F, NPF)是无脊椎动物特有的一类神经肽,因其C末端是苯丙氨酸(F)而命名,参与昆虫的取食、生物节律、学习记忆等多种生理功能的调控。本研究旨在明确NPF对亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis生长发育的影响,为害虫防治提供重要依据。【方法】采用一种基于工程菌高效合成靶向昆虫基因的dsRNA的方法经济有效地敲降npf,用低浓度(0.01%)和高浓度(0.02%)dsNPF和dsGFP(对照)分别饲喂亚洲玉米螟1龄初、3龄初和5龄初幼虫直至化蛹,检测5龄幼虫平均取食量、体重、体长、存活率和化蛹率,蛹羽化率和成虫产卵量,以及幼虫各龄期、蛹发育历期和成虫寿命。【结果】从亚洲玉米螟1, 3和5龄初幼虫开始饲喂0.01%和0.02% dsNPF时,与饲喂相应浓度dsGFP的对照相比,除个别点外,5龄幼虫的取食量、体重、体长、存活率和化蛹率,蛹羽化率和成虫单雌产卵量均显著降低,幼虫各龄期、蛹发育历期均显著延长,成虫寿命显著缩短。且dsNPF处理幼虫的龄期越早对发育的影响越大。其中0.01% dsNPF处理的1龄幼虫和0.02% dsNPF处理的3龄幼虫有90%的个体在蛹期死亡,而0.02%dsNPF处理的1龄幼虫有90%的个体在幼虫期死亡。【结论】结果提示NPF对亚洲玉米螟的发育和取食具有调控作用,这为探索新型绿色的害虫防治提供了依据。     

南方小花蝽对西花蓟马和蚕豆蚜的捕食作用

南方小花蝽Orius similis是多种小型害虫的重要天敌昆虫,为了掌握其控制潜能,本文研究了南方小花蝽对西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis和蚕豆蚜Aphis craccivora的捕食作用。研究结果表明南方小花蝽3～5龄若虫和雌成虫对西花蓟马和蚕豆蚜的功能反应均符合HollingⅡ型方程,南方小花蝽3～5龄若虫和雌成虫对西花蓟马2龄若虫的瞬时攻击率均高于蚕豆蚜。南方小花蝽5龄若虫对蚕豆蚜的控制能力比雌成虫强,而对西花蓟马的控制能力比雌成虫差。南方小花蝽5龄若虫对西花蓟马2龄若虫和蚕豆蚜的捕食率（E）随着捕食者自身的密度（P）的增加而下降,其干扰反应方程分别为E=0.412P-1.623和E=0.416P-1.639。南方小花蝽5龄若虫对西花蓟马2龄若虫和蚕豆蚜有明显的选择性,5龄若虫喜欢取食西花蓟马2龄若虫,但前期取食的猎物对其选择性有明显的影响,更喜欢选择前期取食过的猎物。     

螟长距茧蜂、玉米螟与春玉米间相互关系的初步研究

研究表明,螟长距茧蜂发生高峰期比玉米螟成虫高峰期大约推迟6-9天,与春玉米抽雄期相一致。玉米抽雄开花时绝大部分玉米螟幼虫处在易被螟长距茧蜂寄生的Ⅲ、Ⅳ龄。玉米开花后雄穗的形态结构和营养成分发生改变,致使幼虫下垂转移寻找更适宜的食物。螟长距茧蜂被取食玉米雄穗的玉米螟幼虫所吸引。其寄生与玉米螟幼虫的发育和玉米生育期密切相关。     

Effects of prey density, prey instar, and patch size on the development of the predatory mosquito, Toxorhynchites towadensis

Effects of prey density, prey instar, and patch size on the development of the predatory mosquito larva, Toxorhynchites towadensis, were investigated in the laboratory. Survivors of T. towadensis showed different developmental patterns in relation to prey age structure. All predatory larvae in containers with only second instar prey developed into the third instar. However, in several containers with fourth instar prey, mortality of predators was observed. During the third instar, no predatory larva died, but both prey density and prey instar significantly affected the survival of predators during their fourth instar. Large prey size promoted large predator adults, and predatory larvae which grew up in small surface containers responded by developing to large sizes than those in large containers. Larval developmental time of the predators differed in each treatment. During first and second instars, faster predator development was observed in containers with small surface areas and containing young prey individuals. However, when development was enhanced by the presence of old prey individuals, no surface effect was observed. The fastest predator development was observed with prey of mixed instars and high density. This study suggests that a small surface container containing prey of mixed instars and high density is suitable for development of predators.     

Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Exhibits No Preference between Bt and Non-Bt Maize Fed Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

A recent shift in managing insect resistance to genetically engineered (GE) maize consists of mixing non-GE seed with GE seed known as “refuge in a bag”, which increases the likelihood of predators encountering both prey fed Bt and prey fed non-Bt maize. We therefore conducted laboratory choice-test feeding studies to determine if a predator, Harmonia axyridis, shows any preference between prey fed Bt and non-Bt maize leaves. The prey species was Spodoptera frugiperda, which were fed Bt maize (MON-810), expressing the single Cry1Ab protein, or non-Bt maize. The predators were third instar larvae and female adults of H. axyridis. Individual predators were offered Bt and non-Bt fed prey larvae that had fed for 24, 48 or 72 h. Ten and 15 larvae of each prey type were offered to third instar and adult predators, respectively. Observations of arenas were conducted at 1, 2, 3, 6, 15 and 24 h after the start of the experiment to determine the number and type of prey eaten by each individual predator. Prey larvae that fed on non-Bt leaves were significantly larger than larvae fed Bt leaves. Both predator stages had eaten nearly all the prey by the end of the experiment. However, in all combinations of predator stage and prey age, the number of each prey type consumed did not differ significantly. ELISA measurements confirmed the presence of Cry1Ab in leaf tissue (23–33 µg/g dry weight) and S. frugiperda (2.1–2.2 µg/g), while mean concentrations in H. axyridis were very low (0.01–0.2 µg/g). These results confirm the predatory status of H. axyridis on S. frugiperda and that both H. axyridis adults and larvae show no preference between prey types. The lack of preference between Bt-fed and non-Bt-fed prey should act in favor of insect resistance management strategies using mixtures of GE and non-GE maize seed.     

Development and functional response of Coelophora inaequalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) feeding on brown citrus aphid, Toxoptera citricida (Homoptera: Aphididae)

1 Development and survivorship of Coelophora inaequalis (F.) were evaluated in the laboratory on the brown citrus aphid, Toxoptera citricida (Kirkaldy) at 20 and 25 °C. Coelophora inaequalis could complete its life cycle feeding on T. citricida at these two temperatures. The developmental period from egg to adult was significantly longer at 20 °C (24.7 d) than at 25 °C (15.9 d). The survivorship of combined immature stages were higher at 25 °C (39.2%) than at 20 °C (34.3%). 2 The effects of prey densities (4–64 aphids per leaf disk) on the functional responses of C. inaequalis fourth‐instar larvae and female adults were investigated using grapefruit leaf disks over a 24‐h period at 25 °C and a photoperiod of LD 14 : 10 h. Logistic regression analyses indicated that fourth‐instar larvae and adults exhibited a type II functional response to aphid density. Fourth‐instar larvae had a higher search rate (0.1305) than C. inaequalis female adults (0.0989). The handling time of fourth‐instar larvae (30.4 min) was significantly longer than that of female adults (5.8 min). Collectively, C. inaequalis appears to be a promising biological control agent of T. citricida in the citrus groves.