Phytoparasitica (2003) 31 (3) - Activity of arthropod ...

M. Guershon and D. Gerling (2003)
Activity of arthropod predators in relation to population density of Bemisia tabaci in cotton fields
Phytoparasitica 31 (3)
Abstracts 20th Conference of the Entomological Society of Israel, Feb. 11-12, 2003
Abstract: Aspects of the relationships between predatory arthropods found in cotton fields and one of their potential prey, Bemisia tabaci, were analyzed. Such analysis is essential for recognizing potential biocontrol agents against this pest, protecting them, and improving their action under field conditions. Cotton fields were examined for B. tabaci-associated predators during two seasons. In each, ca 150 randomly selected cotton leaves, each on a different plant, were marked. Each leaf was visited every 3 h for 24 h and the incidence of predators thereupon was noted. Following the observation period the leaves were picked and the whitefly populations on them were recorded. These data allowed us to draw correlations between predator occurrence and the existence of whitefly on the leaves and to determine the main activity hours of the main predacious species. Recorded predators were categorized into eight different taxa: small and large coccinellids, lacewings, the predatory bug Deraeocoris pallens, the omnivorous genera Orius and Campylomma, ants and spiders. The proportion of leaves visited by predators correlated positively with the abundance of whitefly upon each leaf. However, no such correlation was observed when analyzing the numbers of predators per visited leaf. Most visits of the registered taxa occurred between 12:00 and 21:00 hours except for Orius spp., which were more abundant during the morning hours. The results have implications on sampling, timing and monitoring plans and for recognizing the possible impact of key predatory species.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Moshe Guershon

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Bemisia tabaci	Cotton (Gossypium)
	Bemisia afer	Cotton (Gossypium)
Deraeocoris pallens (predator)	Bemisia afer	Cotton (Gossypium)