Prey‐mediated changes in the selectivity of the predator Macrolophus pygmaeus (Heteroptera: Miridae) |
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| Authors: | Dionyssia A Maselou Dionyssios Ch Perdikis Argyro A Fantinou |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece;2. Laboratory of Agricultural Zoology and Entomology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece |
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| Abstract: | When foraging in communities with mixed prey, generalist predators may be confronted with prey species that differ in quality, size and mobility and interact with one another. To examine prey selection, predation by Macrolophus pygmaeus (Heteroptera: Miridae) was recorded by providing a diet of either one or two prey species of Myzus persicae (third‐instar nymphs), Aphis gossypii (fourth‐instar nymphs), Trialeurodes vaporariorum (third‐instar nymphs) and Ephestia kuehniella (eggs). In the experiments, prey mobility, prey quality and prey biomass were considered. The biomass consumed by the predator was dependent on the combination of prey species and the quantity of biomass offered. In choice experiments with diets mixed of two prey species at equal densities, the predation to A. gossypii was significantly reduced in the presence of E. kuehniella but the rate of consumption of M. persicae, T. vaporariorum and E.kuehniella was not significantly affected by the coexistence of any other species in the mixed prey diet. When equal amounts of biomass from two prey species were provided in combination, the total consumed biomass was significantly reduced in the mixed prey diets composed of E. kuehniella eggs and aphid nymphs. Thus, under the mixed‐prey situation, prey selection by predators may be affected by interactions among prey species differing in traits such as quality, mobility and size. |
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| Keywords: | biological control generalist predator prey preference prey– prey interactions |
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