Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of the meridian zone of the subtropical mountainous rainforest of Argentina: update on the fauna and geographical distribution

We report here three new mosquito records in the Yungas ecoregion [Culex (Culex) dolosus, Culex (Microculex) Pleuristriatus Series and Howardina sp.] and the expansion of the distributions of 17 species of the genera Anopheles, Culex, Aedes, Psorophora, and Toxorhynchites for Argentina. These findings broaden the total number of species recorded for northwestern Argentina to 174, from which number 57 species are distributed in the Tucumán province, 21 in the Catamarca, and 96 in the Salta. Also included is information on immature instars collected in phytotelmata.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Survival of the Immature Stages of the Malaria Vectors Anopheles pseudopunctipennis and Anopheles argyritarsis (Diptera: Culicidae) in Northwestern Argentina

In order to optimally time the application of control measures to reduce populations of malaria vectors, program managers need to know precisely when the vulnerable larval stage will be most abundant at each specific breeding site. Therefore at 4 different breeding sites of the malaria vectors, Anopheles pseudopunctipennis Theobald and Anopheles argyritarsis Robineau-Desvoidy in northwestern Argentina, we recorded the calendar dates during spring and summer when different life stages appeared, and in each of these 2 seasons, we measured the duration of each life stage and the probability that it would transition to the subsequent stage or die. Larval samples were collected during the spring and summer of 2008-2009 at 4 localities in northwestern Argentina. These larvae were reared individually in plastic containers in which the volume of water was kept constant, temperature and photoperiod were controlled, and a standard amount of food was provided each day. The data were analyzed by multistate models, a nonparametric model of survival without covariates, a survival model with covariates, a Cox-type survival model with specific co-variates, and models of reduced rank. We collected 1,643 larvae of which 1,404 reached adulthood. Of these 1,119 were An. pseudopunctipennis, and 285 were An. argyritarsis. Both An. pseudopunctipennis and An. argyritarsis were abundant in autumn (55.3% and 66.7%, respectively). Considerably more individuals transitioned from larvae to pupae than from pupae to adults. The probability of an individual remaining in the larval stage for the first 2 days was close to 100% and then decreased. The transition from the larval stage to death was significant in the summer. The breeding site at Rosario de la Frontera exhibited a particularly significant effect on the transition from the larval stage to death, i.e., greatly increased larval mortality. The results obtained in the present study are substantial contributions to the bionomics of An. pseudopunctipennis and An. argyritarsis. According to our results, mosquito source management programs should be focused on the larval stage during the summer season and principally at Rosario de la Frontera River. These actions could substantially reduce the production of the adult vectors and potentially reduce transmission of malaria in northwestern Argentina.Para optimizar el tiempo de aplicación de medidas tendientes a reducir las poblaciones de vectores de la malaria, los directores de programas necesitan saber con precisión cuando el estado larval vulnerable será más abundante en cada sitio específico de cría. Por lo tanto, en 4 diferentes sitios de cría de los vectores de la malaria, Anopheles pseudopunctipennis Theobald y Anopheles argyritarsis Robineau - Desvoidy, en el noroeste de Argentina, registramos las fechas durante la primavera y el verano cuando los diferentes estados de vida aparecieron, y en cada una de estas 2 estaciones climáticas, medimos la duración de cada estado de vida y la probabilidad que había para la transición al siguiente estado o para morir. Se recogieron muestras de larvas durante la primavera y el verano de 2008-2009 en 4 localidades en el noroeste de Argentina. Estas larvas fueron criadas individualmente en envases de plástico en la que el volumen de agua se mantuvo constante, la temperatura y el fotoperíodo se controlaron, y una cantidad estándar de la comida se proporcionó cada día. Los datos se analizaron mediante modelos multiestados, un modelo no paramétrico de supervivencia sin co-variables, un modelo de supervivencia con co-variables, un modelo de supervivencia de tipo Cox con co-variables específicas y un modelo de rango reducido. Se recolectaron 1.643 larvas, de las cuales 1.404 llegaron a las formas adultas, identificándose 1.119 como An. pseudopunctipennis y 285 como An. argyritarsis. Tanto Anopheles pseudopunctipennis como An. argyritarsis fueron abundantes en el otoño (55,32% y 66,67%, respectivamente). Considerablemente más individuos pasaron de ser larvas a pupas que de pupas a adultos. La probabilidad de un individuo de permanecer en el estado larval en los primeros 2 días fue cercana al 100%, disminuyendo luego. La transición de larva a muerte fue significativa en el verano. El sitio de cría de Rosario de la Frontera exhibió un efecto significativo en la transición del estado larval a la muerte, es decir, aumentó en gran medida la mortalidad de las larvas. Los resultados obtenidos en el presente estudio son importantes contribuciones a la bionomía de An. pseudopunctipennis y An. argyritarsis. Según nuestros resultados, los programas de manejo de criaderos de mosquitos deben centrarse en el estado larval durante el verano y principalmente en el río Rosario de la Frontera. Estas acciones podrían reducir sustancialmente la producción de los vectores adultos y potencialmente reducir la transmisión de la malaria en el noroeste de Argentina.Fil: Galante, Guillermina B.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Santana, Mirta. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Veggiani Aybar, Cecilia Adriana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Dantur Juri, Maria Julia. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Chilecito; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

The spatio-temporal distribution patterns of biting midges of the genus Culicoides in Salta province, Argentina

The goal of this survey was to analyze the spatio-temporal distribution patterns of Culicoides Latreille species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and their relationship with environmental variables in Salta, northwestern Argentina. Culicoides were collected monthly from January 2003 through December 2005. The influence of the climatic variables on population abundance was analyzed with a multilevel Poisson regression. A total of 918 specimens belonging to five species were collected. The most abundant species was Culicoides paraensis Goeldi (65.5%), followed by Culicoides lahillei Iches (14.6%) and Culicoides debilipalpis Lutz (7.6%). The highest seasonal abundance for C. paraensis, C. debilipalpis and C. lahillei occurred during the spring and summer. A Poisson regression analysis showed that the mean maximum and minimum temperature and the mean maximum and minimum humidity were the variables with the greatest influence on the population abundance of Culicoides species.Fil: Veggiani Aybar, Cecilia Adriana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Dantur Juri, Maria Julia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Chilecito; ArgentinaFil: Santana, Mirta Sara. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Investigación. Area de Bioestadística; ArgentinaFil: Lizarralde, Mercedes Sara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Spinelli, Gustavo Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Limnología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; Argentin

Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Culicoides insignis and Culicoides paraensis in the Subtropical Mountain Forest of Tucumán, Northwestern Argentina

Culicoides insignis Lutz and Culicoides paraensis Goeldi are known bluetongue virus and filariasis (caused by Mansonella ozzardi Manson) vectors, respectively. Bluetongue virus appears to be restricted to northeastern Argentina, while filariasis is endemic in the subtropical mountain forest of the Argentine northwest. With the objective of characterizing the abundance and seasonality of both Culicoides species, entomological sampling was carried out from Dec 2004 to Nov 2005 in the southern area of the forest of Tucumn province. The specimens were captured using CO2-baited CDC light traps placed in 2 types of environments, wild and anthropized. The abundance of the specimens in relation to environmental variables was analyzed using multiple linear regression. Out of the 2,497 adult specimens collected, 76.9% belonged to C. paraensis, 20.4% to C. insignis and the 2.5% belonged jointly to Culicoides debilipalpis Lutz, Culicoides lahillei Lutz and Culicoides venezuelensis Mirsa & Ortiz (2.5%), and 0.2% could not be identified. Peaks of abundance of C. insignis and C. paraensis in decreasing magnitude were observed in the fall, summer and spring, respectively; and the largest number of specimens was found in the anthropized environment. Mean minimum and maximum temperatures and levels of accumulated rainfall were the variables that best explained the abundance of these 2 species. The present work is an important contribution not only to the knowledge of the spatial and temporal distribution and dynamics of these vectors in nature, but also to the elucidation of the implications of anthropization of the forest environment, and the effect of these climatic variables as determinants of the abundance of the species and, hence, as determinants of the possible transmission of filariasis in the subtropical mountain forest of the Argentine northwest.Culicoides insignis Lutz y Culicoides paraensis Goeldi son conocidos vectores del virus de la lengua azul (BTV) y de la filariasis (causada por Mansonella ozzardi Manson), respectivamente. El virus de la lengua azul aparece reportado para la región del noreste, mientras que la filariasis resulta endémica de la selva subtropical de montaña del noroeste de Argentina. Con el objetivo de caracterizar la abundancia y estacionalidad de ambas especies en el noroeste de la Argentina, se realizó un muestreo entomológico desde diciembre de 2004 a noviembre de 2005 en el área sur de la selva, en la provincia de Tucumán. Los ejemplares fueron capturados mediante trampas de luz CDC cebadas con CO2 y colocadas en dos tipos de ambientes, silvestre y antropizado. La abundancia de los ejemplares en relación a las variables ambientales fue analizada mediante regresiones lineales múltiples. Se recolectaron 2,497 especimenes adultos, de los cuales el 76.9% pertenecen a C. paraensis, el 20.4% a C. insignis y el resto a Culicoides debilipalpis Lutz, Culicoides lahillei Lutz y Culicoides venezuelensis Mirsa & Ortiz (2.5%). Se observaron picos de abundancia decrecientes para C. insignis y C. paraensis en otoño, verano y primavera; resultando el mayor número de ejemplares recolectados para el ambiente antropizado. La temperatura mínima y máxima media y los niveles de precipitación acumulada, fueron las variables que mejor explicaron la abundancia de ambas especies. El presente trabajo resulta una importante contribución no sólo por ampliar el conocimiento de la distribución temporo-espacial y de la dinámica de estos vectores en la naturaleza, sino también por tratar de dilucidar la implicancia de la antropización de los ambientes selváticos y del efecto de las variables climáticas sobre la abundancia de las especies y por lo tanto, de la posible transmisión de la filariasis en la selva subtropical de montaña del noroeste de Argentina.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Culicoides insignis and Culicoides paraensis in the Subtropical Mountain Forest of Tucumán, Northwestern Argentina

Culicoides insignis Lutz and Culicoides paraensis Goeldi are known bluetongue virus and filariasis (caused by Mansonella ozzardi Manson) vectors, respectively. Bluetongue virus appears to be restricted to northeastern Argentina, while filariasis is endemic in the subtropical mountain forest of the Argentine northwest. With the objective of characterizing the abundance and seasonality of both Culicoides species, entomological sampling was carried out from Dec 2004 to Nov 2005 in the southern area of the forest of Tucumn province. The specimens were captured using CO2-baited CDC light traps placed in 2 types of environments, wild and anthropized. The abundance of the specimens in relation to environmental variables was analyzed using multiple linear regression. Out of the 2,497 adult specimens collected, 76.9% belonged to C. paraensis, 20.4% to C. insignis and the 2.5% belonged jointly to Culicoides debilipalpis Lutz, Culicoides lahillei Lutz and Culicoides venezuelensis Mirsa & Ortiz (2.5%), and 0.2% could not be identified. Peaks of abundance of C. insignis and C. paraensis in decreasing magnitude were observed in the fall, summer and spring, respectively; and the largest number of specimens was found in the anthropized environment. Mean minimum and maximum temperatures and levels of accumulated rainfall were the variables that best explained the abundance of these 2 species. The present work is an important contribution not only to the knowledge of the spatial and temporal distribution and dynamics of these vectors in nature, but also to the elucidation of the implications of anthropization of the forest environment, and the effect of these climatic variables as determinants of the abundance of the species and, hence, as determinants of the possible transmission of filariasis in the subtropical mountain forest of the Argentine northwest.Culicoides insignis Lutz y Culicoides paraensis Goeldi son conocidos vectores del virus de la lengua azul (BTV) y de la filariasis (causada por Mansonella ozzardi Manson), respectivamente. El virus de la lengua azul aparece reportado para la región del noreste, mientras que la filariasis resulta endémica de la selva subtropical de montaña del noroeste de Argentina. Con el objetivo de caracterizar la abundancia y estacionalidad de ambas especies en el noroeste de la Argentina, se realizó un muestreo entomológico desde diciembre de 2004 a noviembre de 2005 en el área sur de la selva, en la provincia de Tucumán. Los ejemplares fueron capturados mediante trampas de luz CDC cebadas con CO2 y colocadas en dos tipos de ambientes, silvestre y antropizado. La abundancia de los ejemplares en relación a las variables ambientales fue analizada mediante regresiones lineales múltiples. Se recolectaron 2,497 especimenes adultos, de los cuales el 76.9% pertenecen a C. paraensis, el 20.4% a C. insignis y el resto a Culicoides debilipalpis Lutz, Culicoides lahillei Lutz y Culicoides venezuelensis Mirsa & Ortiz (2.5%). Se observaron picos de abundancia decrecientes para C. insignis y C. paraensis en otoño, verano y primavera; resultando el mayor número de ejemplares recolectados para el ambiente antropizado. La temperatura mínima y máxima media y los niveles de precipitación acumulada, fueron las variables que mejor explicaron la abundancia de ambas especies. El presente trabajo resulta una importante contribución no sólo por ampliar el conocimiento de la distribución temporo-espacial y de la dinámica de estos vectores en la naturaleza, sino también por tratar de dilucidar la implicancia de la antropización de los ambientes selváticos y del efecto de las variables climáticas sobre la abundancia de las especies y por lo tanto, de la posible transmisión de la filariasis en la selva subtropical de montaña del noroeste de Argentina.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Spatial and temporal distribution of culicoides insignis and culicoides paraensis in the subtropical mountain forest of Tucumn, Northwestern Argentina

Culicoides insignis Lutz and Culicoides paraensis Goeldi are known bluetongue virus and filariasis (caused by Mansonella ozzardi Manson) vectors, respectively. Bluetongue virus appears to be restricted to northeastern Argentina, while filariasis is endemic in the subtropical mountain forest of the Argentine northwest. With the objective of characterizing the abundance and seasonality of both Culicoides species, entomological sampling was carried out from Dec 2004 to Nov 2005 in the southern area of the forest of Tucumn province. The specimens were captured using CO2-baited CDC light traps placed in 2 types of environments, wild and anthropized. The abundance of the specimens in relation to environmental variables was analyzed using multiple linear regression. Out of the 2,497 adult specimens collected, 76.9% belonged to C. paraensis, 20.4% to C. insignis and the 2.5% belonged jointly to Culicoides debilipalpis Lutz, Culicoides lahillei Lutz and Culicoides venezuelensis Mirsa & Ortiz (2.5%), and 0.2% could not be identified. Peaks of abundance of C. insignis and C. paraensis in decreasing magnitude were observed in the fall, summer and spring, respectively; and the largest number of specimens was found in the anthropized environment. Mean minimum and maximum temperatures and levels of accumulated rainfall were the variables that best explained the abundance of these 2 species. The present work is an important contribution not only to the knowledge of the spatial and temporal distribution and dynamics of these vectors in nature, but also to the elucidation of the implications of anthropization of the forest environment, and the effect of these climatic variables as determinants of the abundance of the species and, hence, as determinants of the possible transmission of filariasis in the subtropical mountain forest of the Argentine northwest.Fil: Veggiani Aybar, Cecilia Adriana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Dantur Juri, Mara J.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Lizarralde De Grosso, Mercedes Sara. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Spinelli, Gustavo Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Limnología; Argentin

Plasmodium vivax and Mansonella ozzardi co-infection in North-Western Argentina

A case of co-infection with Plasmodium vivax and Mansonella ozzardi was detected in a blood sample from a person who had shown symptoms of malaria and lived in a city that was close to the Argentina/Bolivia border. The case was detected during a random revision of thick and thin smears from patients diagnosed with malaria from various towns and cities located in north-western Argentina between 1983 and 2001. Trophozoites of P. vivax were observed in the thin blood smear along with M. ozzardi microfilaria (larval form), which presented a long, slender, pointed anucleate tail and the absence of the sheath. This last characteristic is shared with Mansonella perstans, Mansonella streptocerca and Onchocerca volvulus. More rigorously controlled studies to detect other co-infection cases in the area as well as the possibility of importation from Bolivia into Argentina are currently ongoing. The relationship between the malaria parasite and microfilaria, the potential effect of malaria treatment on the development of M. ozzardi, and the possible impact of this microfilaria on the immunity of a person against P. vivax are all still unknown. This contribution constitutes a point of focus for future studies involving the interaction between the parasites and the potential risk that humans are exposed to.Fil: Dantur Juri, Maria Julia. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Chilecito. Instituto de Ambientes de Montaña y Regiones Aridas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Veggiani Aybar, Cecilia Adriana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ortega, Eugenia Silvana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Galante, Guillermina Begoña. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Zaidenberg, Mario. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación; Argentin

First Report of Myiasis Caused by Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in a Diabetic Foot Ulcer Patient in Argentina

Myiasis is usually caused by flies of the Calliphoridae family, and Cochliomyia hominivorax is the etiological agent most frequently found in myiasis. The first case of myiasis in a diabetic foot of a 54-year-old male patient in Argentina is reported. The patient attended the hospital of the capital city of Tucumán Province for a consultation concerning an ulcer in his right foot, where the larval specimens were found. The identification of the immature larvae was based on their morphological characters, such as the cylindrical, segmented, white yellow-coloured body and tracheas with strong pigmentation. The larvae were removed, and the patient was treated with antibiotics. The larvae were reared until the adults were obtained. The adults were identified by the setose basal vein in the upper surface of the wing, denuded lower surface of the wing, short and reduced palps, and parafrontalia with black hairs outside the front row of setae. The main factor that favoured the development of myiasis is due to diabetes, which caused a loss of sensibility in the limb that resulted in late consultation. Moreover, the poor personal hygiene attracted the flies, and the foul-smelling discharge from the wound favoured the female’s oviposition. There is a need to implement a program for prevention of myiasis, in which the population is made aware not only of the importance of good personal hygiene and home sanitation but also of the degree of implication of flies in the occurrence and development of this disease.Fil: Olea, María Sofía. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Centeno, Néstor Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Veggiani Aybar, Cecilia Adriana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ortega, Eugenia Silvana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Galante, Guillermina Begoña. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Olea, Luis Segundo. Provincia de Tucumán. Hospital "Ángel C. Padilla"; ArgentinaFil: Dantur Juri, Maria Julia. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Chilecito; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of the meridian zone of the subtropical mountainous rainforest of Argentina: Update on the fauna and geographical distribution

We report here three new mosquito records in the Yungas ecoregion [Culex (Culex) dolosus, Culex (Microculex) Pleuristriatus Series and Howardina sp.] and the expansion of the distributions of 17 species of the genera Anopheles, Culex, Aedes, Psorophora, and Toxorhynchites for Argentina. These findings broaden the total number of species recorded for northwestern Argentina to 174, from which number 57 species are distributed in the Tucumán province, 21 in the Catamarca, and 96 in the Salta. Also included is information on immature instars collected in phytotelmata.Fil: Veggiani Aybar, Cecilia Adriana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rossi, Gustavo Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; Argentin

Biological characteristic of Chrysopodes spinella (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) fed with Bemisia tabaci eggs (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is one of the insect pests of greatest economic importance worldwide. Among its natural enemies, we find members of the Chrysopidae family (Neuroptera). The objective of this work was to determine some biological characteristics of Chrysopodes spinella fed with whitefly eggs under laboratory conditions. C. spinella adults were collected in tomato greenhouses, in Lules, Tucumán, Argentina, and taken to EEAOC laboratories. 34 larvae were fed with whitefly eggs and 37 with Sitotroga cerealella eggs, used as control. They were offered a new number off eggs every 24 hours and larvae survival was recorded. Oviposition and longevity were recorded when they reached the adult stage. The development time of C. spinella fed with whitefly eggs was 35 days and 45 days with S. cerealella eggs. Survival of immature stages, number of eggs per adult and their longevity were higher when C. spinella was fed with S. cerealella eggs. The results obtained in this work are an important contribution to a better understanding of this predator species.Fil: Ortega, E. S.. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Exportadora Agroindustrial; ArgentinaFil: Avila, Ana Lucía. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Exportadora Agroindustrial; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Veggiani Aybar, Cecilia Adriana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentin