Biological aspects of Harmonia axyridis in comparison with Cycloneda sanguinea and Hippodamia convergens

The objective of this work was to evaluate the development, survival, reproductive capacity, and longevity of the Asian ladybug Harmonia axyridis in comparison with Cycloneda sanguinea and Hippodamia convergens. Coccinellid larvae and adults were fed daily with Schizaphis graminum. Ten couples of each species were isolated for evaluation of the adult phase. The duration of the larval stage of H. axyridis is the longest (10.2 days) and its adults are the heaviest (29.7 mg) compared with C. sanguinea and H. convergens. The three species showed similar percentages of survival during the developmental stages. An average of 82% of C. sanguinea, H. axyridis, and H. convergens larvae reached adulthood, which indicates that temperature (25°C) and the offered prey are favorable to coccinellid development. Harmonia axyridis produces a higher total number of eggs per female (1,029.2) than the other evaluated species. However, H. axyridis, which lives for an average of 147.2 days, does not show a significantly greater longevity than C. sanguinea (87.2 days) and H. convergens (134.3 days).O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desenvolvimento, a sobrevivência, a capacidade reprodutiva e a longevidade da joaninha-asiática Harmonia axyridis em comparação a Cycloneda sanguinea e Hippodamia convergens. Larvas e adultos dos coccinelídeos foram alimentados diariamente com Schizaphis graminum. Isolaram-se dez casais de cada espécie para as avaliações na fase adulta. A duração da fase larval de H. axyridis é maior (10,2 dias) e os adultos são mais pesados (29,7 mg) em comparação a C. sanguinea e H. convergens. As três espécies apresentaram percentagem de sobrevivência similar durante os estádios de desenvolvimento. Em média, 82% das larvas de C. sanguinea, H. axyridis e H. convergens atingiram a fase adulta, o que indica que a temperatura (25°C) e a presa oferecida foram favoráveis ao desenvolvimento dos coccinelídeos. Harmonia axyridis produz maior número total de ovos por fêmea (1.029,2) do que as demais espécies avaliadas. No entanto, H. axyridis, que vive, em média, 147,2 dias, não apresenta longevidade significativamente maior que C. sanguinea (87,2 dias) e H. convergens (134,3 dias).Universidade Estadual Paulista Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Departmento de FitossanidadeAgência Paulista de Tecnologia dos AgronegóciosUniversidade Estadual Paulista Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Departmento de Fitossanidad

Hematologic, serum biochemistry and urinary values for captive Crab-eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous) in São Paulo state, Brazil

The importance of studies with hematological, serum biochemistry and urinary values of Crab-eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous) is based on the need for health care and maintenance of those populations. This paper has the objective to investigate hematological, serum biochemistry and urinary physiological parameters of the Crab-eating fox, comparing gender and age differences. Blood samples were collected in 2003 from 52 animals of different Zoos in São Paulo state, Brazil; 7mL of blood was used to obtain a complete blood cell count (CBC) and the profile of the serum biochemistry. Moreover, 5mL of urine were collected for analysis. There was no difference in values for male and female animals, as for the CBC and serum biochemistry. Some hematological and serum biochemical parameters were influenced by age, showing significant differences. Urinalysis results were just demonstrated in a descriptive form. The studied values were, RBC 4.35±0.73 x 10(6) /µL, WBC 7.72±3.66 x 10³ /µL (predominance of segmented neutrophils), platelets 227.06±111.58 x 10³ /µL, urea 43.06±14.28mg/dL and creatinine 1.03±0.24mg/dL. Hematological, serum biochemistry and urinary values obtained in this study can be used as physiological values of the captive Crab-eating Fox. It is possible to conclude that wild species need their own reference values, differentiating animals in captivity from free-ranging animals