BioControl (2012) 57, 627-634

Y. Xue, C.A. Bahlai, A. Frewin, C.M. McCreary, L.E. Des Marteaux, A.W. Schaafsma and R.H. Hallett (2012)
Intraguild predation of the aphid parasitoid Aphelinus certus by Coccinella septempunctata and Harmonia axyridis
BioControl 57 (5), 627-634
Abstract: Coincidental intraguild predation is expected to be less disruptive to biological control than omnivorous intraguild predation, and strong intraguild predation is not expected to occur in natural systems. Coincidental intraguild predation in a foodweb involving introduced pest and natural enemy species was examined to determine whether intraguild predation would be disruptive of biological control services in soybean agroecosystems. Introduced natural enemies are important regulators of soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), populations in North America. Seven-spotted lady beetles, Coccinella septempunctata L., and multicolored Asian lady beetles, Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), are key predators of soybean aphid in North America while the chalcidoid wasp, Aphelinus certus Yasnosh (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), is the most common parasitoid of soybean aphid in Ontario, Canada. Predation of parasitized soybean aphids at two stages (newly parasitized aphids and mummified aphids) by adults and third instar larvae of both C. septempunctata and H. axyridis was examined in laboratory experiments. In choice experiments, all stages of lady beetles preferred non-parasitized aphids over mummified aphids. In cage experiments, third instar larvae and male and female adults of both lady beetles did not discriminate between newly parasitized and non-parasitized aphids. The influence of coincidental intraguild predation on the efficacy of parasitoids as biological control agents, and implications for soybean aphid management decisions based on natural enemies, are discussed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Rebecca H. Hallett, Arthur W. Schaafsma, Lauren E. Des Marteaux

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

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aphis glycines		Canada (east)
Coccinella septempunctata (predator)	Aphis glycines
Harmonia axyridis (predator)	Aphis glycines
Aphelinus certus (parasitoid)	Aphis glycines