Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (2003) 108, 59-70

Nicolai Vitt Meyling, Annie Enkegaard and Henrik Brødsgaard (2003)
Two Anthocoris bugs as predators of glasshouse aphids - voracity and prey preference
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 108 (1), 59-70
Abstract: Voracity and prey preference were evaluated for adult females of the predatory bugs Anthocoris nemorum (L.) and Anthocoris nemoralis (Fabricius) (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) preying upon five species of aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae), of which Myzus persicae Sulzer, Aulacorthum solani (Kaltenbach), Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), and Aphis gossypii Glover are common pests in Danish glasshouse crops. Aphis fabae Scopoli was included to determine the influence of food quality on the preference of the predators, since A. fabae has proved to be of poor nutritional value to Anthocoris spp. The experiments were carried out over 24 h in climate cabinets at 20 °C, 60-70% r.h., L18:D6. The aphids were offered in equal amounts in combinations of two species in instars of comparable size. Myzus persicae served as a reference species in all combinations. Both predators accepted all five species of aphids as prey. The numbers of aphids killed per 24 h period varied between 3.7 and 18.0 for A. nemorum and between 3.6 and 12.7 for A. nemoralis. Field collected A. nemorum females, presumably in a state of reproductive diapause, killed in three of four prey combinations significantly more aphids than did ovipositing A. nemoralis females which originated from a commercial rearing. When A. nemorum females had terminated their reproductive diapause and commenced oviposition, voracity increased approximately threefold. When prey preferences were evaluated as a total number of killed prey, no difference in preference was found between the two Anthocoris species. Both predatory bugs preferred M. persicae to the other species, the most accepted alternative prey were A. gossypii, A. fabae, A. solani, and M. euphorbiae, in descending order. However, evaluating preference by number of aphids consumed, A. nemoralis showed a more pronounced preference for M. persicae, especially when combined with A. fabae. In nearly every case, A. nemoralis rejected A. fabae as a food item after killing the aphid. Thus, A. nemoralis exhibited a more specific food choice than A. nemorum. By killing and consuming different aphid species found in glasshouse crops - particularly M. persicae- both A. nemorum and A. nemoralis showed preliminary qualities as agents for the biological control of aphids.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Nicolai Vitt Meyling

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aphis gossypii		Denmark
	Myzus persicae		Denmark
	Macrosiphum euphorbiae		Denmark
	Aphis fabae		Denmark
	Aulacorthum solani		Denmark
Anthocoris nemoralis (predator)	Myzus persicae		Denmark
Anthocoris nemorum (predator)	Myzus persicae		Denmark