Morfologia do ovo e das formas imaturas de Zagloba beaumonti Casey (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae)

Abstract

Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy technics were aplied in order to describe, for the first time, the immature stages of Z. beaumonti Casey, 1899 reared on it's prey, Diaspis echinocacti (Bouche, 1833) (Homoptera, Diaspididae), the unique pest of Opuntia ficus-lndica Mill and Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dick (prickly-pear, Cactaceae), an impportant alternative food source for the cattle on drought areas of Northeast of Brazil. Yellow eggs layed inside the scales, caraboid larvae without wax processes and pupae partially protected by the last exuvia presented the Scymninae pattern.