Asymmetrical intraguild predation between natural enemies of the citrus mealybug

Abstract

The ability of a predator to discriminate against parasitized prey determines the extent of asymmetrical intraguild predation, which is often crucial for the outcome of biological control. Anagyrus nr.pseudococci (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), a parasitoid of the citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), suffers from intraguild predation by coccinellids occurring in the same habitat. The level of intraguild predation on A.nr.pseudococci by Nephus includens (Kirsch) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) at different immature stages has been investigated with and without simultaneous offer of extraguild prey. Larvae of A.nr.pseudococci appeared to face increased intraguild predation at early developmental stages, whereas mummification provided adequate protection against the predatory coccinellid. Different predation levels on unparasitized vs. parasitized hosts at various developmental stages in choice assays indicated that N.includens preferences might be determined not solely by palatability of the prey but also by its ability to protect itself.

Keywords

Encyrtidae; Pseudococcidae; Hemiptera; Planococcus citri; biological control; Coccinellidae; Nephus includens; Anagyrus nr. pseudococci; Coleoptera; coincidental IGP; Hymenoptera

Published in

Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
2014, volume: 151, number: 2, pages: 122-127

SLU Authors

• Gkounti, Vasiliki

  • Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  • Benaki Phytopathological Institute

UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.12175

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/55977