The evaluations were conducted weekly in the vegetative and blooming/fructification phases in four quadrants (N, S, E, W) of the plant. It was collected 2,230 specimens of S. articulatus, 1,224 in the vegetative phase and 1,006 in the blooming/fructification, being 59,8% adults. From the total of 965 of P. egena, 416 were immatures and 549 adults. The main conclusions are: (1) M. communis may be indicated as plant bait; (2) this plant, may be cultivated or not around the crops of economic importance, because it may function as a reservoir of the pest or of its natural enemies; (3) the relation predator/prey/plant quadrant/phenology phases was, respectivelly, 1.14:1.0 and 1.0:1,08 in north and east quadrant; while in south and west quadrant was 1.0:2.26 and 1.0:2.80; and, (4) the predaction of S. articulatus by P. egena was, in average, 1.02.8 nymphs and 1.664.44 adults (in vegetative phases) and 1.03.76 and 1.0-3.98 (in blooming/fructification), with significant differences at P< 0.01.
Biological control; decorative plant; predator-prey relationship; scale insect
