Oviposition behavior of the mirid Macrolophus pygmaeus under risk of intraguild predation and cannibalism
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Publication date
2020-01-09ISBN
1672-9609
Abstract
Zoophytophagous mirid species, that feed and develop either on prey or plant resources, are often found simultaneously on the same host. Hence, these species can engage in both intraguild predation and cannibalism, which can pose a threat to mirid eggs. Ovipositing females may respond to such risks of predation on their eggs by reducing the number of eggs laid or selecting safer oviposition sites. We tested the oviposition behaviour of Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) (Hemiptera: Miridae) females under the risk of cannibalism by M. pygmaeus males and intraguild predation by Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) males (Hemiptera: Miridae) under laboratory conditions. Intraguild predators and cannibals were introduced during or after the oviposition period. The number of eggs laid (using counts of newly hatched nymphs) and their proportion on each part of a tomato plant were both measured. The results reveal that only cannibalism by M. pygmaeus males after the period of oviposition significantly decreased the number of hatched eggs. Cannibalism thus represents a greater risk to mirid eggs than intraguild predation. The M. pygmaeus female responded to the presence of potential intraguild predators (or competitors) by decreasing the number of eggs laid in the upper leaves. The results suggest that M. pygmaeus females avoid competition by N. tenuis, by laying fewer eggs on upper leaves. Cannibalism could regulate zoophytophagous predator populations under prey scarcity conditions and minimize the risk of crop damage associated with those biological control agents.
Document Type
Article
Document version
Accepted version
Language
English
Subject (CDU)
632 - Plant damage, injuries. Plant diseases. Pests, organisms injurious to plants. Plant protection
Pages
18
Publisher
Wiley
Is part of
Insect Science
Citation
Dumont, François, Éric Lucas, and Oscar Alomar. 2021. "Oviposition Behaviour Of The Mirid Macrolophus Pygmaeus Under Risk Of Intraguild Predation And Cannibalism". Insect Science 28: 224-230. doi:10.1111/1744-7917.12752.
Grant agreement number
MICINN/Programa Nacional de Proyectos de Investigación Fundamental/AGL2011‐24349/ES/Identificación y evaluación de depredadores y sus fuentes de colonización para favorecer el control biológico por conservación en cultivos hortícolas/
Program
Protecció Vegetal Sostenible
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- ARTICLES CIENTÍFICS [2829]
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/