Role of a medicinal plant in attracting Chrysopidae predators and controlling Leucopteracoffeella

Abstract

Intercropping in agricultural systems can enhance biological pest control, yet selecting the appropriate companion plants remains challenging. This study investigated the potential of Varronia curassavica Jacq. (Cordiaceae), a medicinal aromatic plant, to improve the biological control of the coffee leaf miner, Leucoptera coffeella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae) by Chrysopidae predatory species. We assessed the survival of Ceraeochrysa cubana (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) larvae and adults, and the survival and reproduction of L. coffeella adults in the presence of V. curassavica inflorescences. Additionally, we evaluated whether V. curassavica in its vegetative stage, when associated with coffee plants, would influence the oviposition of another related Chrysopidae species, Chrysoperla externa, and L. coffeella. Our findings indicated that C. cubana larvae had increased survival in the presence of V. curassavica inflorescences, whereas the survival of C. cubana and L. coffeella adults was unaffected. However, the intrinsic growth and oviposition rates of L. coffeella were reduced in the presence of V. curassavica inflorescences. Furthermore, in a greenhouse experiment, the number of eggs laid by C. externa was higher when coffee plants were intercropped with V. curassavica in the vegetative stage, while the oviposition of L. coffeella was unaffected. These results suggest that V. curassavica can enhance populations of Chrysopidae predators in coffee crops and negatively impact the fitness of L. coffeella or provide no benefit to this pest. Therefore, incorporating V. curassavica into coffee cropping systems appears promising for managing L. coffeella populations by pulling in Chrysopidae predators.