Olfactory response by Hippodamia convergens (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) when presented with Diaphorina citri (Homoptera: Psyllidae) and Aphis craccivora (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Adults of the convergent ladybug, Hippodamia convergens (Guërin-Mëneville), imported from California have been recently released in citrus groves of Collier county, Florida as an alternative to reinforce the control of the Asian Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Kuwayama) vector of the citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) disease.  The beetles could also help control aphids secondary citrus pests and vectors of citrus tristeza virus. Coccinellids may use visual and olfactory cues for prey detection; however, there is no information on preferences and prey selection behavior of this coccinellid species in citrus groves. For the present study, we use a two-way olfactometer to assess preference by H. convergens for aphids and psyllids based on volatiles produced by the prey and to determine the time required to locate and respond to prey stimuli.