Abstract
Abstract. Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinelidae), is a predator widely used to control pest populations of the pink hibiscus mealybug (PHM) Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green). This field study was conducted in majahua (Hibiscus pernambucensis) trees in the state of Nayarit, Mexico. The results showed that the predator performs three main behavioral events related to the activities of searching, handling, and copulation, with defined times for each event, with a total duration of 106 minutes and 83–100% of predation on existing populations of the pink hibiscus mealybug. These behavioral events depend on pest population density and developmental stage; for these reasons, a detailed analysis of this process might be useful to plan more efficient applications of this predator against the pink hibiscus mealybug.
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