Journal of Applied Entomology (2018) 142, 340-348

H. El-Danasoury and J. Iglesias-Piñeiro (2018)
Predation by polyphagous carabid beetles on eggs of a pest slug: Potential implications of climate change
Journal of Applied Entomology 142 (3), 340-348
Abstract: Harpalus rufipes and Poecilus cupreus are two widespread polyphagous carabids which are known to destroy eggs of the pest slug Deroceras reticulatum in the laboratory. To examine the effect of temperature on the predation of the eggs of D. reticulatum by H. rufipes and P. cupreus, a laboratory experiment with different temperatures and a semi-field experiment including simulated warming were performed. In both experiments, H. rufipes killed more eggs than P. cupreus, and the predatory activity of the former increased significantly with increasing temperature. To our knowledge, this is the first study on predatory activity of polyphagous carabids on the eggs of a pest slug performed under a climate warming scenario. Results suggest that biological pest control performed by polyphagous carabids such as H. rufipes upon pest slugs may be enhanced under predicted climate warming conditions.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Deroceras reticulatum
Harpalus rufipes (predator)	Deroceras reticulatum
Poecilus cupreus (predator)	Deroceras reticulatum