Plasticity in predation behaviour of carabid beetles in agro-ecosystems (original) (raw)
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Effect of prey density the biology and functional response of Chrysoperla carnea
Effect of prey density on biology and functional response of green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) was studied in the laboratory of Entomology Section of Agricultural Research Institute, Dera Ismail Khan at 25±1 ºC, 65±5% RH and 10:14 light : dark regime. Newly emerged larvae of C. carnea were fed 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 fresh eggs of Sitotroga cerealella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in a small plastic bottles. It was observed that the prey density had a significant effect on positive consumption rate, development and fecundity of C. carnea. In general maximum consumption with shortest developmental time, maximum fecundity and longest adult longevity were observed as prey density increased. In all treatments, the predatory potential was high when the prey density was raised. Daily predation rate of C. carnea increased slowly during the first two instars and reached to its peak in the third larval instars. Although, C. carnea completed its development at all prey densities, the increase in prey densities reduced developmental time and mortality. Lacewing larvae provided with an overabundance of S. cerealella eggs developed faster than the larvae provided with fewer eggs. Lacewing fed during larval stage with 20 eggs/day showed the lowest fecundity with the increase in prey density. A smaller intrinsic rate of increase was due to the fact that the population fed at a low prey density had prolonged developmental time, the higher mortality rate in immature stages as well as a low daily rate of progeny.
Effect of prey density on biology and functional response of green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) was studied in the laboratory of Entomology Section of Agricultural Research Institute, Dera Ismail Khan at 25±1ºC, 65±5% RH and 10:14 light : dark regime. Newly emerged larvae of C. carnea were fed 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 fresh eggs of Sitotroga cerealella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in 9 cm petri dishes. It was observed that the prey density had a significant effect on positive consumption rate, development and fecundity of C. carnea. In general maximum consumption with shortest developmental time, maximum fecundity and longest adult longevity were observed as prey density increased. In all treatments, predatory potential was high when the prey density was raised. Daily predation rate of C. carnea increased slowly during the first two instars and reached to its peak in the third larval instar. Although, C. carnea completed its development at all prey densities, the increase in prey densities reduced developmental time and mortality. Lacewing larvae provided with an overabundance of S. cerealella eggs developed faster than the larvae provided with fewer eggs. Lacewing fed during larval stage with 20 eggs/day showed lowest fecundity with the increase in prey density. A smaller intrinsic rate of increase was due to the fact that the population fed at a low prey density had prolonged developmental time, higher mortality rate in immature stages as well as a low daily rate of progeny.
Functional response of a generalist insect predator to one of its prey species in the field
Journal of Animal Ecology, 2002
The shield beetle Cassida rubiginosa Müller (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) is one of the most prominent herbivores on creeping thistle, Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. and is considered as a biological control agent against this weed. In order to investigate if augmented densities of this species could be sustained, predation on C. rubiginosa larvae was studied in the field with the aid of continuous video surveillance of individual prey during three seasons at two different study sites. 2. The paper wasp Polistes dominulus Christ (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) was responsible for 99·4% predation on C. rubiginosa larvae at both study sites. Prey densities were always reduced to a few individuals at the sites after a few days only. Thus, P. dominulus may annihilate the effect of augmentative releases of the beetle as a biocontrol agent. 3. P. dominulus showed no aggregation in patches of high host density (numerical response). The observed density dependence was attributed to the functional response of the wasp. 4. P. dominulus showed a Type III functional response. In mark-and-recapture experiments we found no indication that this type of functional response was the result of single wasps specializing on this particular prey type. 5. Type III functional responses in generalists can result by switching to prey species which become temporarily abundant. Since in a natural setting a mixture of prey species coexists in different abundance and which are differentially accepted by generalist predators, it is imperative to study their functional response in the field.
Southwestern Entomologist, 2017
Functional response of third-instar larvae of green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), to four densities of single-instar larvae of the five instars of obliquebanded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), was evaluated at 25 ± 1°C in a laboratory. The aims were to determine the type and other characteristics of functional response including predatory capacity of green lacewing for possible use in augmentative biological control in apple (Malus x domestica Borkh; Rosales: Rosaceae) orchards where obliquebanded leafroller was recently introduced in Mexico. Abundance of the pest increased rapidly, causing significant foliar damage and some fruit blemish. Third-instar green lacewing larvae based on logistic regression analysis showed Type II functional response to four densities of single-instar larvae of obliquebanded leafroller. Among the five instars of prey, the largest average number consumed per green lacewing predator was a relative density of four second-instar larvae at a rate of 1.93 in 24 hours. Also, substantial average consumption was by two thirdinstar prey larvae per predator whereby an average of 1.5 third-instar obliquebanded leafrollers were consumed per third-instar green lacewing in 24 hours. The third-instar predator captured and consumed third-instar prey larvae in the shortest handling time (h), i.e., only 6.46 minutes, whereas the handling times for the other instars ranged from 23.48 minutes for the fifth instar to 31.56 minutes for the fourth instar. However, attack coefficients (a) of green lacewings were slightly greater for third-and fourth-instar prey larvae, with 0.19 hour (11.4 minutes) and 0.15 hour (9.0 minutes) until the first attack, respectively, compared to 0.09-0.11 hour (5.4-6.6 minutes) until the first attack for the other instars. Results indicated that the green lacewing could be considered a prospective candidate for use as a biological control agent against lepidopteran leafrollers.
Larvae of the common green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera :Chrysopidae) were fed with different densities of Hyalopterus pruni (Geoffer) (Homoptera: Aphididae) in Petri dishes under laboratory conditions. Functional response, developmental time, mortality rate and fecundity of the predator were measured. Treatments were carried out at 25±1C, 65±5% RH and a 16L:8D photoperiod in a controlled temperature cabinet. Prey was given at densities of 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160 and 250 aphids per larva per day and the number of consumed prey, developmental time and mortality rate of the predator were recorded daily. Larvae of C. carnea responded to increasing prey densities with increasing food consumption and older larval stages displayed a higher rate of predation than younger ones. The behaviour of each of the three larval stages matched Holling’s type II functional response. Larvae were able to complete their development in each of the seven prey densities, although increased prey densities reduced developmental time and mortality rate. Increased prey consumption in immature stages resulted in a higher net reproduction rate (R0) and the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) of adult females.
The reduviine assassin bug, Acanthaspis pedestris Stål is a predator of diverse insect pests. In the present study, the functional response of fourth and fifth nymphal instars and adult males and females of Acanthaspis pedestris Stål to the laboratory prey, the larvae of rice meal moth, Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) and the natural prey the termite, Odontotermes obesus Rambur was studied. The life stages of A. pedestris responded to the increasing prey density of both the species by killing more number of prey than prey killed at lower prey densities and exhibited Holling's type II curvilinear responses. The searching time decreased as the prey density was increased in both prey species. The predation rate showed a steep rise from 1 to 16 prey densities. The maximum predations presented by 'k' values were always found restricted to the higher prey density. Attack ratios decreased as the prey density increased in the chosen prey species. Negative correlations were obtained between the prey density of both the species and the handling time, the recovery time and the searching time of the predator. Though a curvilinear type II relationships were found between the number of prey killed and the prey density in the life stages of A. pedestris fed with both the prey, the natural prey O. obesus promoted functional response parameters such as number of prey killed, attack rate and searching time and prolonged the handling time and the recovery time than the laboratory prey C. cephalonica. Hence, it is concluded that the life stages of A. pedestris more positively responded to its natural prey, O. obesus than to C. cephalonica.
Different host consumption by Chrysoperla carnea (Green lacewing) under laboratory conditions
2020
The study was carried out on different hosts at IPM laboratory Tandojam during 2018-2019. The duration of various life stages i.e., eggs, larvae and pupae on aphid, eggs of Angoumois grain moth and mealy bug were observed. The fecundity female, longevity of female were recorded on various hosts. The predatory behaviour of larvae of Chrysoperla Carnea was recorded daily by offering them a known number of aphids, eggs of Angoumois grain moth and mealy bug. The increase in the weight of larvae of C. carnea after consumption of food was daily recorded in 3 instar. The mean larval emergence from the eggs was observed as 16.4±1.60, 16.4±1.50 and 16.2±1.28 on Angoumois grain moth, cotton aphid and mealy bug respectively. The pupal period was 112.6±14 on Angoumois grain moth, cotton aphid and mealy bug respectively. The fecundity of female on three hosts comes out to be 1490.4±40.78, 1594.6±53.28, 1402.6±42.81 on Angoumois grain moth, cotton aphid and mealy bug respectively. The weight reco...
Coccinellid beetles due to high foraging performance, immense predatory potential and high reproductive efficacy possess the potential to be effectively employed in biological control programme for several destructive insects such as aphids, coccids, scale insect etc. Cheilomenes sexmaculata is very common in the target area and found abundantly predating on several aphids. Hence, the feeding performance and post embryonic development of C. sexmaculata feeding on three economically important aphids, Aphis craccivora, Aphis gossypii and Lipaphis erysimi have been studied. The grubs of the predator, C. sexmaculata showed greater preference for A. craccivora (141.4± 6.67 aphids) followed by A. gossypii (122.25 ± 7.44 aphids) and L. erysimi (106.95 ± 7.73 aphids). The higher development period was observed on L. erysimi (17.50 ± 0.72 days) than A. gossypii (16.0 ± 0.5 days) and A. craccivora (15.6± 0.24 days). Similarly C. sexmaculata had higher pre-pupal and pupal period when fed on L. erysimi than A. gossypii and A. craccivora. The higher longevity of the C. sexmaculata was observed on A. craccivora (39.6 ± 1.21 days) than A. gossypii (35.25 ± 0.47 days) and L. erysimi (33.25 ± 0.47 days). It is probably due to more preference of A. craccivora than A. gossypii and L. erysimi. Hence, this predator consumed more A. craccivora than A. gossypii and L. erysimi during its life span and also during larval development period.
Effect of prey on predation, growth and biology of green lacewing (Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi)
Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences
The larvae of the polyphagous predator, green lacewing [Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Petersen)] was reared on natural prey including cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae), bean aphid (Aphis craccivora), nymphs of okra jassid (Amrasca biguttula biguttula), eggs and neonate larvae of Spodoptera litura and eggs of Corcyra cephalonica to study the effect of prey regimes on the predation and the biology of the predator. The lacewing grub preyed significantly highest number of prey units (415.50 eggs/ grub) of C. cephalonica eggs which was significantly more than the S. litura eggs (250.60 eggs/ grub), A. biguttula biguttula (185.00 nymphs/ grub), B. brassicae (127.50 aphids/grub), A. craccivora (119.00 aphids/grub) and neonates of S.litura (62.25 larvae/grub). The larval duration varied from 7.50 to 15.235 days on different preys which was seven day less in the grubs reared on eggs than the grubs fed on insect as prey. Larval survival was significantly highest (97.82%) on C. cephalonica eggs. The pupal period varied from 7.50 days to 8.63 days. The grubs reared on eggs of C. cephalonica and S. litura showed longer pupal period. On insects as prey, the growth index (GI) of larvae was significantly less (5.56-8.58) compared to the larvae reared on egg-hosts. The weight of grubs preying on other hosts was 35-50% less compared to those reared on C. cephalonica eggs. Relative inadequacy of lepidopteran neonates and aphids except B. brassicae as prey for the young larvae adversely affected the larval survival, GI and adult emergence may be due to reduced nutritional support exerting adverse effect on growth and causing moulting distress.
Quantifying food limitation of arthropod predators in the field
Oecologia, 1998
A method for quantifying food limitation of arthropod predators in the field is presented and applied to species of ground beetles (Carabidae) and sheet-web spiders (Linyphiidae) from a cereal field. Food limitation is expressed quantitatively as accumulated hunger (=starvation) by transforming 24-h food consumption at 20°C of animals newly collected in the field into days of starvation at 20°C. This is done by means of a reference curve relating 24-h food intake at 20°C to starvation periods (days) at 20°C. Such a reference curve was obtained for the carabid beetle Agonum dorsale in the laboratory. For other species the reference curve was modified with species-specific data. The procedure makes it possible to compare the feeding conditions of different species populations that are part of the same community. Hunger levels in the field for females of A.␣dorsale were equivalent to c. 15 days of starvation in early spring, c. 5 days in June, increasing to c. 10 days in late summer. Two ground beetles occurring during summer also showed increasing hunger levels from June to July, probably the result of a dry summer. Two spider species experienced a hunger level in the range of 4–8 days of starvation.