Environmental Entomology (1989) 18, 1056-1059

E. Grafius and F.W. Warner (1989)
Predation by Bembidiion quadrimaculatum (Coleoptera: Carabidae) on Delia antiqua (Diptera: Anthomyiidae)
Environmental Entomology 18 (6), 1056-1059
Abstract: Bembidion quadrimaculatum L. is one of the most common carabids in Michigan onion fields and feeds on onion maggot, Delia antiqua (Meigen), eggs and first instars as well as a number of other prey. Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to. determine the effectiveness of B. quadrimaculatum as a predator of the onion maggot.. Up to 25 onion maggot eggs per day were consumed per B. quadrimaculatum adult. Consumption of egg and first instals increased with temperature. Predation was higher when eggs were placed on the soil surface than for eggs placed 1 cm deep (70% versus 17.5%). In field cage studies, B. quadrimaculatum reduced onion maggot numbers by up to 57%. B. quadrimaculatum may therefore be an important biological control agent for the onion maggot.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

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.
	Delia antiqua	Onion/garlic/leek (Allium)	U.S.A. (NE)
Bembidion quadrimaculatum (predator)	Delia antiqua	Onion/garlic/leek (Allium)	U.S.A. (NE)