January - February 2020 ISSN: 0193 - 4120 Page No. 5976 - 5985 Functional Response and Predation Potential of Hyperaspis Campestris (Herbst 1783) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on Opuntiae Cochineal Dactylopius Opuntiae (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) in Morocco Mohamed El Aalaoui,1,4*, Rachid Bouharroud,1 Mohamed Sbaghi,2 Mustapha El Bouhssini,3 and Lahoucine Hilali,4 1Integrated Crop Production Unit, Regional Center of Agadir, National Institute of Agronomic Research, Morocco. Emails: [email protected] (Corresponding author) and [email protected], 2National Institute of Agronomic Research, Plant Protection Department, Scientific Division, Rabat Morocco. Emails: [email protected] 3 International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Rabat, Morocco. Email: [email protected] 4Faculty of Science and Technology of Settat, Morocco. Email: [email protected] *Corresponding author: [email protected], Article Info Abstract: Volume 82 Functional response of the lady beetle Hyperaspis campestris (Herbst 1783) Page Number: 5976 - 5985 to varying densities (1, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25) of Dactylopius opuntiae Publication Issue: (Cockerell) young females (20 days old) were determined under controlled January-February 2020 conditions at 26±2°C, 60±10 % RH and 12:12 h L:D regime. The searching efficiency of H. campestris considerably decreased as prey density increased. The significant linear coefficient (P1) obtained by logistic regression had a negative indicating functional response type II. Attack rates (0.151, 0.101, 0.097, 0.122, 0.124 and 0.135) and handling times (3.848, 5.171, 5.417, 4.245, 4.356 and 3.940) for 1 to 25 density, respectively, were recorded using Holling‘s disc equation. Most of this handling time was spent in removing the wax covering and protecting the young females of the mealybug. H. campestris feeds on young females of D. opuntiae and could Article History therefore be an effective predator to regulate to low-density populations of Article Received: 18 May 2019 D. opuntiae. Revised: 14 July 2019 Accepted: 22 December 2019 Keywords: Biological control, Functional response, D. opuntiae, Publication: 29 January 2020 Hyperaspis campestris, Cactus Introduction as cattle feed ( Kiesling 1999; Bouharroud Cactus is one of the most important et al. 2016). It is cultivated in Africa, economic crop worldwide (Kiesling 1999). Europe, Asia, America, Africa, Canada, It plays an critical role in the ecological Peru, Cuba, and other Caribbean islands system in semi-arid and arid areas, (Casas & Barbera 2002; Bravo Hollis & preventing desertification and preserving Scheinvar 1995; Griffith 2004). In biodiversity, is also exploited as a Morocco, cactus was first introduced in vegetable source for human, and cladodes 1770 from south Africa and the cactus area Published by: The Mattingley Publishing Co., Inc. 5976 January - February 2020 ISSN: 0193 - 4120 Page No. 5976 - 5985 has considerably evolved over the last two The damage caused by this scale pest to decades from 50 000 ha in 1998 to more fruit and cladodes in Mexico resulted than 150 000 ha at present as a result of higher production and economical costs drought (Bouharroud et al. 2016). Mann (Badii & Flores 2001; Portillo & Vigueras (1969) reported that there are 167 2006). Also in Lebanon and Israel a pest Arthropod species associated to cactus risk analysis of the insect was carried out (Opuntiae ficus indica). Among these to protect natural areas covered by O. insects, Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell) ficus-indica (Spodek et al. 2014). D. is the most devastator pest of prickly pear opuntiae is mostly controlled by cactus in Mexico (Githure et al. 1999; organophosphate insecticides such as Portillo & Vigueras 2006), Brazil (Silva et cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos which can al. 2013), Israel and Spain (Spodek et al. affect human health, the environment, and 2014) and recently Morocco and others limit international commercial exchange Mediterranean areas (Bouharroud et al. (Vanegas-Rico et al. 2016). Many 2016; El Aalaoui et al., 2019a; El Aalaoui alternative strategies such as the use of et al., 2019b). This sap-sucking insect was predators have been used around the world first detected and identified in Morocco in to reduce pesticides use for D. opuntiae 2014 (Bouharroud et al. 2016) and caused control (Vigueras et al. 2009; Borges et al. severe damage to prickly pear in many 2013; Vanegas-Rico et al. 2016). Natural regions of kingdom. D. opuntiae feed enemies associated with Dactylopius directly on cladodes, and severe species include much predators belonging infestations inferior or equal to 75 % of the to Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera and cladode surface can result a death of the Neuroptera groups (Grissell 2004; El host plant (Mann 1969; Vanegas-Rico et Aalaoui et al., 2019b). Coccinellidae al. 2015). This hemipteran females have 3 Hyperaspis trifurcata and Chilocorus cacti life stages – egg, nymph or crawlers (2 are the most predators of D. opuntiae in instars), and adult, lived permanently USA and Mexico (Vanegas-Rico et al. attached to their host cladodes, and 2016). After detection of D. opuntiae in produce wax cottony that protects their Morocco, surveys were conducted in bodies against predators, and reduces the different cactus production areas with a potency of pesticides, the female survival view to find biological control agents with time varies from 90 to 128 days, also each the potential to be used as a predators female can laid more then 130 eggs, which against this scale pest. In July 2017, hatch almost simultaneously into crawlers Hyperaspis campestris was observed on (Badii & Flores 2001). whereas males cactus crop actively feeding on cactus have 5 life stages egg, nymph, pre-pupa, mealy bug (D. opuntiae) in Sidi Bennour, pupa and adult, male is short lived without region (Bouharroud et al. 2019). A few feeding and moves predominantly by studies showed the utilization of H. walking (Badii & Flores 2001). No campestris as biological control agent. informations are available today on Hyperaspis campestris Herbst was able to economical and environmental losses reduce the population of pulvinaria caused by D. opuntiae, in Morocco, where floccifera (Westwood) within two years of it is not native, around 400 ha of cactus release (Bogdanova 1956). Also damaged by this insect at Sidi Bennour in Hyperaspis spp. eggs are generally Doukkala region have been reported. The deposited near their prey, on the bark or cochineal is today present almost in all growth rings of twigs, but not inside the Morocco regions. In Brazil the degas scales (El-Ali 1972). However, in Hubbard caused by this scale pest were estimated at and Potter‘s (2005) study in Kentucky, $25 Million Dollar (Lopes et al. 2009). Hyperaspis spp. emerged only from under Published by: The Mattingley Publishing Co., Inc. 5977 January - February 2020 ISSN: 0193 - 4120 Page No. 5976 - 5985 adult females. The body length measured 2 in (1980-81) and (1996-97). The rainfall to 5 mm (Van Goethem 1975; Gunst annual average of 30 years is 330 mm. 1978). The head is yellow with black on Temperature varies in -1°C (Dec-Jan) and upper side hidden by from 40 to 45 (July-August). For soil there pronotum(Bouharroud et al. 2019). The are two zones: Zone 1: Vertisol with an anterior pronotum border was yellow and angular structure over the first 15 cm and the sides are partially yellow(Bouharroud with high moisture content, deep up to 1.5 et al. 2019). The red spot is typically m, difficult to work in dry conditions. placed at three-quarter part of elytron. The Zone 2: Light soil with a clay-sand-silty humeral spots is absent (Van Goethem hydromorphic structure with an alkaline 1975). Ph (Khattabi et al. 2004). A version modified of the ‗cut cladode technique‘ of The functional response is defined by the Aldama-Aguilera and LlanderalCazares number of preys devoured by predator in (2003) described by Vanegas-Rico et al. well determined time and is a good (2016) was used to follow the age and to indicator of the efficiency of a biological increase numbers of scale insect. The control agent as a predator of prey attacked cladodes were then maintained (Fernàndez-Arhex & Corley 2004). Most under controlled conditions at 26±2 °C, coccinellids showed type II response 60±10 % RH and 12:12 h L:D regime and (Gunog & Donald 2011). Many models the colony was allowed to develop for use have adopted in the past to explain the in experiments. interaction between predator and prey (Omkar 2004). Holling disc equation was Predator source the most model used to describe this During surveys, the adults of Hyperaspis interaction (Holling 1959, Fenlon & campestris were collected from cactus Malcolm 2006). This method is frequently plantations in Zemamra locality, identified used to calculate handling time parameters, (Bouharroud et al. 2019; El Aalaoui et al. the attack rate and maximum attack 2019b), and maintained on cladodes coefficient of predators (Omkar 2004). infested with D. opuntiae until there use The aim of this study was to determine the under controlled conditions (26±2°C and type of functional response of 60±10% relative humidity) at the H.campestris on D. opuntiae, to estimate experimental station of INRA (National its predation parameters (handling time Institute of Agronomic Research, and attack rate), and to have an idea about Morocco) in Zemamra. Adults were kept the suitability of this ladybeetle as a in entomological cages (80-80-80cm) predator of Opuntiae scale in Morocco. comprised of a wooden frame with a mesh fabric to allow ventilation. Access to water Material and Methods was ensured via a white cotton inserted Mealybug source into a 25 ml glass vial of water. To provide Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes no infested food the cladodes attacked with D. were used for Dactylopius opuntiae opuntiae nymphs were introduced into the rearing. The Opuntiae scale (D. opuntiae) cages (Vanegas-Rico et al.