Functional response of Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) and Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) feeding on two different prey species |
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Authors: | Iman Sharifian Javad Khoshabi |
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Affiliation: | Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Plant Protection, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran |
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Abstract: | Functional response type and predatory parameters of Macrolophus pygmaeus and Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae), the two important predators widely used in IPM programmes at tomato greenhouses, were investigated. The predators fed on Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) or Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs. Different densities of prey eggs including 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 (latest only for E. kuehniella) were used at laboratory conditions. The results showed that both predatory bugs had type II functional response. Also, predation indices were significantly different between the predators. Although N. tenuis was more efficient against T. absoluta eggs than M. pygmaeus, M. pygmaeus predatory indices showed that this predator was more efficient on E. kuehniella eggs. Thus, minimum and maximum attack rate were observed in N. tenuis fed on E. kuehniella (0.0871 h?1) and T. absoluta (0.2514 h?1) eggs, respectively. Whilst, the minimum and maximum handling time were observed in M. pygmaeus fed on E. kuehniella (1.8695 h) and T. absoluta (2.7415 h) eggs, respectively. |
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Keywords: | attack rate Ephestia kuehniella handling time mirid predatory bugs Tuta absoluta |
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