Entomophaga (1997) 42, 21-32

T. Bilde and S. Toft (1997)
Consumption by carabid beetles of three cereal aphid species relative to other prey types
Entomophaga 42 (1/2), 21-32
Abstract: The cereal aphid Rhopalosiphum padi has previously been found to be a low quality prey for a range of generalist arthropod predators. The aim of this study was to reveal, using food consumption experiments whether this applies to other cereal aphids. The question of whether predator feeding capacity increased when several aphid species were offered relative to a single aphid species was also addressed by measuring food consumption on a mixed aphid diet relative to single aphid diets. Food consumption by five carabid beetles of the three cereal aphid species Rhopalosiphum padi, Sitobion avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum was determined relative to fruit flies Drosophila melanogaster and the collembolan Isotoma anglicana. Feeding rate was measured as food consumption over 24 hour both for previously satiated and beetles starved for 7 days. Generally the largest aphid consumption was of M. dirhodum and the lowest of R. padi, with S. avenae in between, The mixed aphid consumption experiments did not reveal a higher feeding rate on mixed aphid diets relative to single aphid diets. The results indicate low preference for R. padi and S. avenae.
(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): Søren Toft

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.
	Sitobion avenae		Denmark
	Rhopalosiphum padi		Denmark
	Metopolophium dirhodum		Denmark