Inferring Biological Control Potential of Adult Predatory Coccinellids Using Life History Traits and Putative Habitat Preference

Aspects of the nutritional ecology and life histories of five predatory coccinellids (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)—two arboreal predator species, Oenopia conglobata contaminata (Menetries) and Adalia bipunctata (Linnaeus), and three herbaceous dwelling predator species, Coccinella undecimpunctata aegy...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of economic entomology 2019-09, Vol.112 (5), p.2116-2120
Main Authors: Jalali, M. Amin, Mehrnejad, M. Reza, Ellsworth, Peter C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adalia bipunctata
Agonoscena pistaciae
Animals
Aphididae
Aphids
Aphis gossypii
Beetles
BIOLOGICAL AND MICROBIAL CONTROL
Biological control
Coccinella undecimpunctata aegyptiaca
Coccinellidae
Coleoptera
Ecosystem
Exochomus nigripennis
food consumption
Habitat preferences
Habitats
Hemiptera
Herbivores
Hippodamia variegata
Life history
Life History Traits
life table
Nut industry
Nutritional ecology
Oenopia conglobata contaminata
Orchards
Pest control
Pest Control, Biological
Pests
pistachio
Predators
Predatory Behavior
Prey
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Summary:Aspects of the nutritional ecology and life histories of five predatory coccinellids (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)—two arboreal predator species, Oenopia conglobata contaminata (Menetries) and Adalia bipunctata (Linnaeus), and three herbaceous dwelling predator species, Coccinella undecimpunctata aegyptica (Reiche), Exochomus nigripennis (Erichson), and Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)—were compared when fed either Agonoscena pistaciae Burckhardt and Lauterer (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae), the key psylla pest of pistachio trees, or Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a common aphid on herbaceous plants in pistachio orchards.The putative habitat preferences of four of the five coccinellids studied were consistent with their performance on the major herbivore present in those two habitats in terms of net reproductive rate. Oenopia conglobata contaminata and Ad. bipunctata showed higher net reproductive rates when fed on pistachio psylla prey, whereas C. undecimpunctata aegyptiaca and E. nigripennis had better reproductive output on aphid prey. Moreover, E. nigripennis was the most specialized of these generalist predators, eating more and reproducing better when fed aphids. Hippodamia variegata was relatively unaffected by the diet offered, suggesting greater ability to switch among herbivore prey and perhaps better potential as a biocontrol agent with abilities to exploit Ag. pistaciae without large life history tradeoffs.
ISSN:0022-0493
1938-291X
DOI:10.1093/jee/toz161