Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection (2015) 48, 910-920

Iman Sharifian, Qodratollah Sabahi and Javad Khoshabi (2015)
Functional response of Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) and Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) feeding on two different prey species
Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection 48 (17-20), 910-920
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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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Phthorimaea absoluta
Macrolophus pygmaeus (predator)	Phthorimaea absoluta
Nesidiocoris tenuis (predator)	Phthorimaea absoluta