Seasonal fluctuation in the population of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and co-occurrence with other Coccinellids in the Federal District of Brazil

Abstract

The multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773), was first recorded in Brazil in 2002 in Paraná state and subsequently observed in Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul and Minas Gerais. This species can spread to new areas and become dominant in the local community, reducing the density and diversity of native species, mainly Coccinellidae. The objective of this work was to record for the first time the occurrence of H. axyridis in the Federal District and its co-occurrence with other Coccinellidae species. The individuals were collected directly from plants at an organic farm in Taguatinga and in experimental fields of Embrapa Hortaliças, located in the Federal District, from August 2008 to January 2010. We collected 881 Coccinelids, and of these, 110 belong to the species H. axyridis. These were found exclusively on the following plants of the succinea group: maize, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, cucumber, cotton, tomato and coriander. We also observed its co-occurrence with the following lady beetle species: Cycloneda sanguine (Linnaeus, 1763), Hippodamia convergens (Guerin-Meneville 1842), Eriopis connexa (German, 1824), Scymnus sp., Nephaspis sp., Azya luteipes (Mulsant, 1850), Hyperaspis festiva (Mulsant, 1850), Olla v-nigrum (Mulsant, 1866), Psyllobora sp. and Coleomegilla maculata (De Geer, 1775). So far, we have not found any negative interactions between H. axyridis and these species. This is the northernmost H. axyridis record in Brazil. Moreover, the region was previously considered to have a low probability of occurrence for this species. Therefore, this record confirms that H. axyridis presents great adaptive plasticity to new habitats.