Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (1996) 81, 335-343

S.D. Eigenbrode, T. Castagnola, M.-B. Roux and L. Steljes (1996)
Mobility of three generalist predators is greater on cabbage with glossy leaf wax than on cabbage with a wax bloom
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 81 (3), 335-343
Abstract: Adult coccinellids Hippodamia convergens Guerrin-Menneville, adult minute pirate bugs Orius insidiosus (Say), and larval lacewings Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) have been reported to more effectively reduce populations of Plutella xylostella (L.) (Plutellidae: Lepidoptera) larvae on a cabbage with glossy surface waxes than on a standard cabbage variety. To examine the mechanisms, the behavior of each predator species was quantified on the two cabbage types. All three predators spent less time walking on the standard variety and more time in other activities, including grooming and 'scrambling' (ineffective forward locomotion). In addition, walking by each predator was distributed more evenly among the parts of the leaf on the glossy cabbage than on the standard variety. In small enclosures, C. carnea and O. insidiosus found and attacked individual first instar P. xylostella more quickly on the glossy cabbage. Scanning electron micrographs showed debris, probably wax, on the tarsae of C. carnea and O. insidiosus that had walked on the standard variety, but not on those that had walked on glossy cabbage. H. convergens tarsae did not accumulate debris on either cabbage type. Predator mobility and effectiveness were apparently impeded by wax crystals, which are present only on the standard variety. This mechanism can explain the greater effectiveness of these generalist predators against P. xylostella larvae on glossy vs normal-wax cabbage.
(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): Sanford D. Eigenbrode

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.
	Plutella xylostella	Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)
Chrysoperla carnea (predator)
Orius insidiosus (predator)
Hippodamia convergens (predator)