Intraguild predation by the generalist predator Dicyphus hesperus on the parasitoid Encarsia formosa

Predation was measured in the laboratory by Dicyphus hesperus females on patches of greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) pupae. The patches contained different proportions of unparasitized pupae and those parastisized as nymphs by Encarsia formosa. Dicyphus hesperus fed readily on parasit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biocontrol science and technology 2005-05, Vol.15 (3), p.219-227
Main Authors: McGregor, R.R, Gillespie, D.R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aphelinidae
biological control
biological control agents
Dicyphus
Dicyphus hesperus
Encarsia formosa
generalist predator
greenhouse experimentation
Intraguild predation
Lycopersicon esculentum
Miridae
mortality
nymphs
parasitoids
population density
predation
predator-prey relationships
predatory insects
pupae
Trialeurodes vaporariorum
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Summary:Predation was measured in the laboratory by Dicyphus hesperus females on patches of greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) pupae. The patches contained different proportions of unparasitized pupae and those parastisized as nymphs by Encarsia formosa. Dicyphus hesperus fed readily on parasitized pupae and the number of parasitized pupae consumed increased with the proportion available indicating a capacity for intraguild predation. However, D. hesperus females did not display a preference for feeding on parasitized pupae versus unparasitized pupae. Dicyphus hesperus adults were released at three densities into greenhouse enclosures containing tomato plants harbouring greenhouse whitefly and immature E. formosa. Numbers of killed and parasitized whitefly nymphs and pupae and the total number of healthy whitefly were compared among Dicyphus density treatments. On upper leaves, the amount of predation on whitefly nymphs was higher at the highest predator density than at the lower density or in enclosures where D. hesperus was not released. On lower leaves, the number of parasitized pupae was lowest with the highest predator density indicating a negative effect of intraguild predation by D. hesperus on E. formosa. Despite this, Dicyphus density did not affect the density of whitefly in the presence of E. formosa. The results are discussed as they relate to concurrent use of D. hesperus and E. formosa for regulation of greenhouse whitefly populations.
ISSN:0958-3157
1360-0478
DOI:10.1080/09583150400016076