scholarly journals The lacewing Ceraeochrysa caligata as a potential biological agent for controlling the red palm mite Raoiella indica

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis O. Viteri Jumbo ◽  
Adenir V. Teodoro ◽  
Adriano S. Rêgo ◽  
Khalid Haddi ◽  
Andréia S. Galvão ◽  
...  

Background Compared to chemical control, the use of naturally occurring biological agents to control invasive pests is less threatening to the environment and human health. Objectives Here, we assessed the ability of immature stages of the lacewing Ceraeochrysa caligata (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) to prey upon different developmental stages of the red palm mite Raoiella indica (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), one of the most destructive invasive pests of palm trees in Neotropical regions. Methods Increasing densities of three stages of R. indica (eggs, immature stages, and adult females) were offered to C. caligata in coconut leaf arenas. The immature stages of C. caligata were less than 24 h old and were starved before being transferring to the arenas. The amount of prey consumed was recorded 6 h after releasing the C. caligata. Results Our results indicated that the ability of C. caligata to feed upon R. indica increased with the larval development of the predator. Higher feeding levels and shorter handling times were recorded for the first and second instars of C. caligata when preying upon the eggs and immature stages of R. indica. Furthermore, C. caligata individuals of different stages exhibited differential functional responses according to prey type (i.e., eggs, immatures, or adult females of R. indica). Ceraeochrysa caligata second instar individuals exhibited a sigmoid increase in consumption rate with increasing prey availability (i.e., a type III functional response) when preying upon immature stages of R. indica. However, when preying upon R. indica adult females, C. caligata second instar individuals exhibited a type II functional response (i.e., an increase in consumption rate with increasing prey availability, before reaching a plateau). Predator individuals of the first and third instar stages exhibited a type II functional response for all prey types. Conclusions Collectively, our findings demonstrate that C. caligata, especially at the second instar stage, has potential as a tool for ecological management of the red palm mite.

ENTOMON ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-246
Author(s):  
Anna Jose ◽  
Madhu Subramanian ◽  
Pratheesh P Gopinath ◽  
Haseena Bhaskar

  Efficiency, functional and numerical responses of anthocorid bug Blaptostethus pallescens Poppius on the spider mite, Tetranychus truncatus Ehara were examined under laboratory conditions. Nymphs of B. pallescens exhibited a Hollings type II functional response when females of spider mite were offered at densities of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 mites/bug. Individual fifth instar bugs consumed up to 45.3 adult females of T. truncatus in 24 h at prey mite densities of 60 mites/ bug. Studies on numerical response revealed that the nymphs of the anthocorid bug failed to complete development when the food was restricted to mite alone. Numerical response studies on adult bugs, when offered T. truncatus at densities of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 females showed no significant differences in the average fecundity of the female bug. Results indicate that the anthocorid predator, B. pallescens has a very high predatory potential though with a weak numerical response.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dipankar Ghosh ◽  
Prasun K. Santra ◽  
Abdelalim A. Elsadany ◽  
Ghanshaym S. Mahapatra

Abstract This paper focusses on developing two species, where only prey species suffers by a contagious disease. We consider the logistic growth rate of the prey population. The interaction between susceptible prey and infected prey with predator is presumed to be ruled by Holling type II and I functional response, respectively. A healthy prey is infected when it comes in direct contact with infected prey, and we also assume that predator-dependent disease spreads within the system. This research reveals that the transmission of this predator-dependent disease can have critical repercussions for the shaping of prey–predator interactions. The solution of the model is examined in relation to survival, uniqueness and boundedness. The positivity, feasibility and the stability conditions of the fixed points of the system are analysed by applying the linearization method and the Jacobian matrix method.


2016 ◽  
Vol 75 (s1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alma R. Núñez-Ortiz ◽  
Sarma Nandini ◽  
S.S.S. Nandini

<p>Freshwater turbellarians, despite their mainly benthic habits, interact with pelagic communities of rotifers and cladocerans. However, very little is known about their demographic characteristics, food preference and functional response. To fill that gap we studied one of the most widely spread species, <em>Stenostomum leucops</em>.  We conducted population growth experiments using abundant food (several rotifer and cladocerans species). To evaluate possible impact of <em>S. leucops</em> on planktonic communities, we conducted prey preference experiments at two temperatures: 18 and 23°C. The number of rotifers and cladocerans consumed was calculated by the difference between the initial and final density. We found that diets supplemented with fresh algae achieved higher <em>S. leucops</em> densities than those with detritus supplements in their diets. In the case of animal diets, <em>Euchlanis dilatata</em> allowed <em>S. leucops</em> reach higher densities than the other zooplankton species; <em>E. dilatata</em> was positively selected for in the selectivity study at both 18 and 23°C.  <em>Stenostomum leucops</em> showed a type II functional response on rotifers and the cladoceran <em>Alona glabra</em>. Our results suggest that <em>S. leucops</em> select their prey according to their vulnerability using different mechanisms, which optimize their food intake.</p>


2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-21
Author(s):  
Hidrayani Hidrayani ◽  
Aunu Rauf ◽  
S. Sosromarsono ◽  
U. Kartosuwondo

The preference and functional response of Parasitoid Hemiptarsenus varicornis (Girault) (Hymenoptera:Eulophidae) on host larvae of potato leafminers. The preference of Hemiptarsenus varicornis (Girault) on host larvae of potato leafminers (Liriomyza huidobrensis) and their  functional response on host abundance were studied in laboratory. The preference test was conducted by releasing a female parasitoid in a cage containing two redbean leaves, one with 2nd instar and another one with 3rd instar.  The functional response test was conducted by providing 3rd instar  with density 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 13  larvae  per leaf. The result showed that  H. varicornis had the preference on 3rd instar  larvae compared to 2nd instar, either for parasitisation or paralysis. Based on logistic regression analysis it was found that the parasitoid showed type II functional response on the increase of host abundance. The searching rate (a) and handling time (Th) for paralysis were 0.038 and 1.473 based on disk equation model, and 0.076 and 2.060 on ramdom equation model.  For parasitisation activity, the value of  a and Th were  0.012 and 4.649 based on disk equation model, and 0.014 and 5.075 on random equation model.


2022 ◽  
Vol 154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Desh Deepak Chaudhary ◽  
Bhupendra Kumar ◽  
Geetanjali Mishra ◽  
Omkar

Abstract In the present study, we assessed functional response curves of two generalist coccinellid beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), specifically Menochilus sexmaculatus and Propylea dissecta, using fluctuating densities of aphid prey as a stimulus. In what may be the first such study, we investigated how the prey density experienced during the early larval development of these two predatory beetle species shaped the functional response curves of the late instar–larval and adult stages. The predators were switched from their rearing prey-density environments of scarce, optimal, or abundant prey to five testing density environments of extremely scarce, scarce, suboptimal, optimal, or abundant prey. The individuals of M. sexmaculatus that were reared on either scarce- and optimal- or abundant-prey densities exhibited type II functional response curves as both larvae and adults. However, individuals of P. dissecta that were reared on scarce- and abundant-prey densities displayed modified type II functional response curves as larvae and type II functional response curves as adults. In contrast, individuals of P. dissecta reared on the optimal-prey density displayed type II functional response curves as larvae and modified type II functional response curves as adults. The fourth-instar larvae and adult females of M. sexmaculatus and P. dissecta also exhibited highest prey consumption (T/Th) and shortest prey-handling time (Th) on the scarce-prey rearing density. Thus, under fluctuating-prey conditions, M. sexmaculatus is a better biological control agent of aphids than P. dissecta is.


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