Abstract Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) is a major pest of Florida citrus. Adult females lay eggs in masses sealed between leaves in the citrus canopy, and recently-hatched neonate larvae drop to the soil and feed on roots. The coccinellid species, Cycloneda sanguinea (L.), Harmoniaaxyridis Pallas, and Olla v-nigrum Mulsant, are generalist predators that consume a wide range of citrus pests, although they have not been observed preying on Diaprepes. We conducted experiments to determine whether these species would feed on Diaprepes egg masses and neonate larvae, and how an exclusive or partial diet of Diaprepes eggs would influence their development. The three predators responded very similarly in our tests. In laboratory assays, coccinellid larvae and adults readily consumed exposed Diaprepes eggs and neonates less than 48 h old; and coccinellid larvae preyed on 40% of intact egg masses laid between wax paper strips or citrus leaves, whereas adults preyed on 8.7%. In a greenhouse assay,coccinellid larvae loc...