The effect of con/heterospecific diet on predation, oviposition and longevity of Amblyseius swirskii, Neoseiulus californicus and Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (11) ◽  
pp. 2240-2252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Somayeh Haghani ◽  
Azadeh Zahedi-golpayegani ◽  
Alireza Saboori ◽  
Hossein Allahyari

Intraguild predation (IGP) consists of interacting individuals with context dependent roles that compete for food. Information about the predator trophic interactions i.e. cannibalism or feeding on heterospecific juveniles, is a key to understand the real impact of their combinations when introduced in biological control systems. The hypothesis here, assumed that the pairwise introduction of the female predatory mites, N. californicus (predator) + P. persimilis (heterospecific prey) and vice versa, A. swirskii (predator) + P. persimilis (heterospecific prey) and vice versa could exist in the Tetranychus urticae (main prey) scarcity. Three diets consisted of either conspecific or heterospecific six eggs, four eggs + four larvae and four protonymphs were introduced to the guilds. The predation and oviposition rates and the longevity of each female intraguild predator on detached bean leaf disc was recorded every three hours for 12 consecutive days. Neoseiulus californicus predation rate was estimated to be highest on conspecific eggs + larvae (11.35 ± 1.12) and so was on those of P. persimilis (55.7 ± 3.42). No significant difference was observed in N. californicus oviposition rate on three conspecific diets (P > 0.05), while its oviposition rate was highest on P. persimilis eggs + larvae (7.15 ± 0.80). Phytoseiulus persimilis predation rate was estimated to be highest on eggs + larvae both on N. californicus and P. persimilis as prey. Its oviposition rate was estimated to be highest when feeding on conspecific eggs (2.25 ± 0.19) and N. californicus eggs + larvae. Amblyseius swirskii fed on 45 ± 2.79 P. persimilis and 12.90 ± 1.51 A. swirskii eggs + larvae, which was significantly higher than predation rates on other stages (P < 0.01). Amblyseius swirskii oviposition rate was not significantly different on each of the three diets or on A. swirskii or P. persimilis as prey (P > 0.05). The oviposition rate of P. persimilis was the highest on A. swirskii eggs + larvae (1.45 ± 0.19). When N. californicus fed on each of the three diet types, no significant difference was observed in its longevity. The greatest longevity of P. persimilis was recorded when feeding on N. californicus/P. persimilis eggs. Longevity of A. swirskii was the greatest on P. persimilis eggs and protonymphs. Similarly, P. persimilis had the greatest longevity feeding on A. swirskii eggs. We concluded that the predator species were capable of surviving under conditions of scarce prey when heterospecific species are present.

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Faten M. Momen ◽  
Amira Abdel-Khalek

Abstract Background The predatory mites, Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor), N. barkeri (Hughes), and Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot, are important predators attacking many insect and mite pests. They can coexist in the same habitat and engage in intraguild predation (IGP). Main body IGP was assessed among the exotic one N. californicus and the native species N. barkeri and A. swirskii as Intraguild predator (IG-predator)/intraguild prey (IG-prey) in either absence or presence of extra-guild prey Tetranychus urticae Koch (EG-prey). In the laboratory, the physiological parameters, longevity, fecundity, and predation rate of these predatory mites’ females, fed on EG-prey, were evaluated, where phytoseiid larvae are considered as (IG-prey) or combined IG-prey with EG-prey. All predatory species consumed larval stages of each other’s, but in case of N. californicus, females failed to sustain oviposition on N. barkeri larvae. Also, it was noticed that N. californicus females killed 3 times more A. swirskii larvae than N. barkeri larvae, whereas A. swirskii consumed more N. californicus than N. barkeri larvae, respectively. Neoseiulus californicus lived longer on T. urticae and A. swirskii larvae than on N. barkeri, while the latter survived longer on T. urticae only than on the other prey or with combinations with T. urticae. Amblyseius swirskii lived shorter when fed exclusively on T. urticae or IG-prey than on EG-prey combined with IG-prey. In choice experiments, N. californicus showed a higher preference to consume more T. urticae than any of phytoseiid larvae. The comparison between T. urticae and IG-prey diets definite the higher influence of T. urticae on the fecundity in N. californicus and N. barkeri than on IG-prey, whereas in A. swirskii fecundity was as equal on T. urticae as on IG-prey N. californicus larvae. Conclusion A. swirskii seemed to be the strongest IG-predator.


2017 ◽  
Vol 149 (5) ◽  
pp. 581-591
Author(s):  
Mona Moghadasi ◽  
Hossein Allahyari

AbstractIntraguild predation is a notable factor to proper application of biocontrol agents to reduce pest populations. Intraguild predation was studied between Typhlodromus bagdasarjani Wainstein and Arutunjan (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in presence and absence of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) as well as pollen. Intraguild predation between two predators was bidirectional. The highest and the lowest predation rates of both predators in absence and presence of T. urticae as well as in the pollen treatments were on heterospecific eggs and deutonymphs, respectively. Typhlodromus bagdasarjani consumed more heterospecific eggs compared with P. persimilis. When pollen was added, predation of T. bagdasarjani significantly reduced on heterospecific eggs and deutonymphs in absence and presence of T. urticae treatments, respectively. However, predation rate of P. persimilis on heterospecific stages was not significantly affected by pollen addition. Oviposition of both predators was higher in presence of T. urticae than in its absence and oviposition of P. persimilis was significantly higher on heterospecific stages than T. bagdasarjani. Pollen addition had a significant effect on increasing the oviposition rate of T. bagdasarjani. Extraguild prey presence had a nonsignificant effect on the consumption rate of intraguild prey by the intraguild predators. However, presence of extraguild prey led to a significant increase in oviposition rate of both predators.


2009 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Buitenhuis ◽  
L. Shipp ◽  
C. Scott-Dupree

AbstractThe relationships between the predatory mites, Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) and Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), and their prey, western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), were investigated to determine the effects of predation on intra-guild or extra-guild prey and predator preference. Life history characteristics of both predatory mites were measured when fed eggs and larvae of the other predator species and compared to data obtained when the predators were fed thrips larvae. In addition, choice tests were conducted to determine if the predators had a preference for different prey or if they were indiscriminate predators. Amblyseius swirskii appears to be an important intra-guild predator of N. cucumeris juveniles because of a high predation rate and a preference for N. cucumeris juveniles over thrips. Neoseiulus cucumeris is also an intra-guild predator of A. swirskii juveniles; however, it has a lower predation rate than A. swirskii. Contrary to intra-guild predation theory, intra-guild prey was an equally good or better food source than thrips (extra-guild prey) for both predators, based on high oviposition rates and fast development times. The results of this study indicate a high potential for negative interactions between A. swirskii and N. cucumeris when used together in biological control of thrips.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 46-55
Author(s):  
Somayeh Haghani ◽  
Azadeh Zahedi Golpayegani ◽  
Alireza Saboori ◽  
Hossein Allahrari

Behavioral characteristics such as aggressiveness and predation preference of the phytoseiid predatory species, Amblyseius swirskii, Neoseiulus californicus and Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) were investigated when applied together. We quantified the chance and time of a successful attack to a heterospecific larva as aggressiveness of adult females. In order to the determine the predation preference of adult females equal combination of con/heterospecific larvae were presented to as prey in absence of their main prey (Tetranychus urticae Koch) for 24 h. Experiments were carried out in growth chamber at 25±1 ºC, 65±5% RH and 16:8 (L: D) hour photoperiod regimens. The results showed that adult females of N. californicus needed 39.65±7.46 min. to attack and kill the larva of P. persimilis which was remarkably less than that recorded (227.80±28.38 min.) for adult females of P. persimilis to attack and kill N. californicus larva. N. californicus was estimated more aggressive than P. persimilis. The mean estimated attack time of A. swirskii and P. persimilis was estimated 18.55±2.89 and 201.70±25.42 min., respectively. A. swirskii was considered more aggressive than P. persimilis against heterospecific larvae. The predation preference index (Manly´s β) were indicated that N. californicus was able to recognize con/heterospecific larva, resulted more preference for heterospecific larvae (P. persimilis) in absence of T. urticae, while adult P. persimilis showed no preference (between con and heterospecific larva). Manly´s β, for A. swirskii was 0.706 and 0.294, for P. persimilis 0.369 and 0.630 on hetero and conspecific larvae, respectively. Results of this study showed that, A. swirskii and N. californicus are general predators were able to roecgnize con/heterospecific larva and preferred to feed on heterospecific larvae and get benefit from intraguild predation.


Behaviour ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 150 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Walzer ◽  
Peter Schausberger

Intraguild (IG) prey is commonly confronted with multiple IG predator species. However, the IG predation (IGP) risk for prey is not only dependent on the predator species, but also on inherent (intraspecific) characteristics of a given IG predator such as its life-stage, sex or gravidity and the associated prey needs. Thus, IG prey should have evolved the ability to integrate multiple IG predator cues, which should allow both inter- and intraspecific threat-sensitive anti-predator responses. Using a guild of plant-inhabiting predatory mites sharing spider mites as prey, we evaluated the effects of single and combined cues (eggs and/or chemical traces left by a predator female on the substrate) of the low risk IG predator Neoseiulus californicus and the high risk IG predator Amblyseius andersoni on time, distance and path shape parameters of the larval IG prey Phytoseiulus persimilis. IG prey discriminated between traces of the low and high risk IG predator, with and without additional presence of their eggs, indicating interspecific threat-sensitivity. The behavioural changes were manifest in distance moved, activity and path shape of IG prey. The cue combination of traces and eggs of the IG predators conveyed other information than each cue alone, allowing intraspecific threat-sensitive responses by IG prey apparent in changed velocities and distances moved. We argue that graded responses to single and combined IG predator cues are adaptive due to minimization of acceptance errors in IG prey decision making.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 01-06
Author(s):  
Maryam Rezaie ◽  
Fatomhe Montazerie

Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is an effective predator in greenhouses which feeds on plant injurious mites. Searching capacity is one of importance in the effectiveness of this predatory mite. In this research, the population fed with corn pollen, walnut and date pollen and the spider mite (four strains) were investigated. The prey-stage preference of N. californicus was studied on different developmental stages of Tetranychus urticae. The predation rate of rearing population of N. californicus was determined; it was used eggs of T. urticae. Experiments were carried out on strawberry disc in Petri dish (6 cm diameter) under laboratory conditions (27±1ºC temperature, 70±5% RH and 16L: 8D photoperiod). After 24 hours, the total numbers of prey consumed were counted. The predatory mites reared on different pollens prefer eggs or nymphs to adults and the Preference Index of different strains was not different. Result of consumed of spider mites by female predatory mites indicated the predation rate of the predatory mites fed with corn pollen (9±1.46), walnut pollen (8.19±0.99) and Date pollen (8.28±0.80) did not any significant difference, however when spider mites and the mentioned pollens were used, the predation rate of predatory mites when fed with T.  urticae (14.74±0.94), Walnut (15.24±1.05) and date pollen (14.17±1.04) show significant difference with the population of corn pollen (10.0±0.95). The predation rate of four strains decreased at present of plant pollens. Use of the predatory mite fed with the different developmental stage of two-spotted spider mite and pollen in the biological control of the pests is useful.


2003 ◽  
Vol 93 (4) ◽  
pp. 343-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.C. Stavrinides ◽  
D.J. Skirvin

AbstractThe effect of plant architecture, in terms of leaf hairiness, and prey spatial arrangement, on predation rate of eggs of the spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, by the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot was examined on cut stems of chrysanthemums. Three levels of leaf hairiness (trichome density) were obtained using two different chrysanthemum cultivars and two ages within one of the cultivars. The number of prey consumed by P. persimilis was inversely related to trichome density. At low prey densities (less than ten eggs per stem), prey consumption did not differ in a biologically meaningful way between treatments. The effect of prey spatial arrangement on the predation rate of P. persimilis was also examined. Predation rates were higher in prey patches on leaves adjacent to the release point of P. persimilis, but significantly greater numbers of prey were consumed in higher density prey patches compared to low density patches. The predators exhibited non-random searching behaviour, spending more time on leaves closest to the release point. The implications of these findings for biological control and predator–prey dynamics are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (4) ◽  
pp. 1735-1740
Author(s):  
Md Arefur Rahman ◽  
Souvic Sarker ◽  
Eunhye Ham ◽  
Jun-Seok Lee ◽  
Un Taek Lim

Abstract The polyphagous predator Orius species is a dominant predator of thrips, mites, and aphids. Orius laevigatus (Fieber) is a well-known commercialized and effective biological control agent, whereas Orius minutus (L.) distributed widely over the world has not been commercialized. To assess potentials of developing O. minutus as a commercial biological control agent, we compared the biological parameters of O. minutus with O. laevigatus when reared on mixed stages of Tetranychus urticae Koch at 27.5°C. Nymphal development of O. laevigatus was shorter (11.30 d) than that of O. minutus (12.25 d), but there was no significant difference in survivorship between the two species. Also, no significant difference was found in either the preoviposition or oviposition periods, lifetime fecundity, or longevity between the two species. However, O. minutus eggs had a higher hatch rate (0.77) than O. laevigatus (0.71). In life table analysis, no difference was found in any parameters, i.e., R0, rm, λ, T, and DT, between O. laevigatus and O. minutus in two-tailed t-tests. In a predation bioassay, O. minutus consumed 1.39 times more adult T. urticae in 24 h than did O. laevigatus, although the predation rate on T. urticae eggs was similar between the two species. These results suggest that O. minutus native to Korea could be developed as a biological control agent against T. urticae.


Author(s):  
Marcos E. Cua-Basulto ◽  
Esaú Ruiz-Sánchez ◽  
Alfonzo Pérez-Gutiérrez ◽  
Rodolfo Martín-Mex ◽  
Ángel Nexticapan-Garcéz ◽  
...  

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