Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T12:10:16.387Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Biological characteristics of the mirids Macrolophus costalis and Macrolophus pygmaeus preying on the tobacco form of Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

J.T. Margaritopoulos
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Faculty of Crop and Animal Production, University of Thessaly, Fytokou st., 38 446, Nea Ionia, Magnesia, Greece
J.A. Tsitsipis*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Faculty of Crop and Animal Production, University of Thessaly, Fytokou st., 38 446, Nea Ionia, Magnesia, Greece
D.C. Perdikis
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Agricultural Zoology and Entomology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
*
*Fax: +30 0421 93286 E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Biological and population parameters of the predatory bugs Macrolophus costalis Fieber and Macrolophus pygmaeus Rambur preying on the tobacco aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) were examined. Tobacco was used as host plant and all experiments were carried out at 23°C and L16:D8. In M. costalis, the developmental time for eggs and the total duration of nymphal instars was 13.1 and 22.2 days and in M. pygmaeus 13.0 and 20.2 days, respectively. Both species completed their nymphal development feeding only on plant juices although they required significantly more time to attain adulthood than when feeding on prey. The longevity of M. costalis females and the preoviposition period were 49.9 and 5.6 days and those of M. pygmaeus were 50.3 and 6.3 days, respectively. Adult males showed a higher longevity than females in both species. The intrinsic rate of increase and the mean total number of eggs laid were 0.0644 and 121 in M. costalis and 0.0615 and 104 in M. pygmaeus, respectively. Mean total aphid consumption by nymphs of M. costalis was 61 aphids, about twice that of M. pygmaeus (37 aphids). Total aphid consumption by a male and female pair of M. costalis and M. pygmaeus until the death of the female was 244 and 285 aphids, respectively. The results of the study are discussed in relation to the impact of the two predatory bugs on tobacco aphid populations.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alomar, O., Goula, M. & Albajes, R. (1994) Mirid bugs for biological control: identification, survey in non-cultivated winter plants and colonization of tomato fields. Bulletin IOBC/WPRS 17, 217223.Google Scholar
Alvarado, P., Balta, O. & Alomar, O. (1997) Efficiency of four Heteroptera as predators of Aphis gossypii and Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Hom.: Aphididae). Entomophaga 42, 215226.Google Scholar
Belcher, D.W. & Thurston, R. (1982) Inhibition of movement of larvae of the convergent lady beetle by leaf trichomes of tobacco. Environmental Entomology 11, 9194.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Birch, L.C. (1948) The intrinsic rate of natural increase of an insect population. Journal of Animal Ecology 17, 1526.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blackman, R.L. (1971) Variation in the photoperiodic response within natural populations of Myzus persicae (Sulzer). Bulletin of Entomological Research 60, 533546.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dirimanov, M. & Dimitrov, A. (1975) Role of useful insects and in the control of Thrips tabaci Lind. and Myzodes persicae Sulz. on tobacco. pp 7172. in 8th International Plant Protection Congress, Moscow, Section 5, Biological and Genetic Control. [Review of Applied Entomology 65, ref. 972].Google Scholar
Fauvel, G., Malausa, J.C. & Kaspar, B. (1987) Etude en laboratoire des principales caracteristiques biologiques de Macrolophus caliginosus (Heteroptera: Miridae). Entomophaga 35, 529543.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Feinstein, L. & Hanna, P.H. (1951) Effect of green peach aphid damage on the nicotine content of tobacco. In Journal of Economic Entomology 44, 267.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hansen, D.L., Brodsgaard, H.F. & Enkegaard, A. (1999) Life table characteristics of Macrolophus caliginosus preying upon Tetranychus urticae. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 93, 269275.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Katis, N., Chryssochoou, A. & Woods, R. (1992) Tobacco viruses in Greece. p. 159 in Information Bulletin, Coresta Congress. 1116. October 1992 Gerez de la Frontera. Spain.Google Scholar
Lykouressis, D.P., Perdikis, D.C. & Chalkia, C.A. (1999) The effects of natural enemies on aphid populations on processing tomato in Central Greece. Entomologia Hellenica 13, 3542.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lykouressis, D.P., Perdikis, D.C. & Tsagarakis, A. (2000) Polyphagous mirids in Greece: host plants and abundance in traps placed is some crops. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Entomologia agraria Filippo Silvestri 56, 5768.Google Scholar
Malausa, J., Drescher, J. & Franco, E. (1987) Prospective for the use of predaceous bug Macrolophus caliginosus Wagner (Heteroptera: Miridae) on glasshouse crops. Bulletin IOBC/WPRS 10, 106107.Google Scholar
Naranjo, S.E. & Gibson, R.L. (1996) Phytophagy in predaceous Heteroptera: effects on life history and population dynamics. pp 5793. in Alomar, O. & Wiedenmann, R. (Eds) Zoophytophagous Heteroptera: implications of life history and intergrated pest management. Thomas Say, Publications in Entomological Proceedings, Entomological Society of America.Google Scholar
Perdikis, D.C. (2000) In Studies on the biological parameters and food preferences of the polyphagous predator Macrolophus pygmaeus Rambur, Doctoral Thesis, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens. Greece.Google Scholar
Perdikis, D.C. & Lykouressis, D. (1996) Aphid populations and their natural enemies on fresh market tomatoes in central Greece. Bulletin IOBC/WPRS 19, 3337.Google Scholar
Perdikis, D.C. & Lykouressis, D. (1997) Rate of development and mortality of nymphal stages of the predator Macrolophus pygmaeus Rambur feeding on various preys and host plants. Bulletin IOBC/WPRS 20, 241248.Google Scholar
Perdikis, D.C. & Lykouressis, D. (1999) Development and mortality of the nymphal stages of the predatory bug Macrolophus pygmaeus Rambur when maintained at different temperatures and on different host plants. Bulletin IOBC/WPRS 22, 137144.Google Scholar
Perdikis, D.C., Lykouressis, D.P. & Economou, L.P. (1999) The influence of temperature, photoperiod and plant type on the predation rate of Macrolophus pygmaeus on Myzus persicae. BioControl 44, 281289.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Riudavets, J. & Castañè, C. (1998) Identification and evaluation of native predators of Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in the Mediterranean. Environmental Entomology 27, 8693.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sedlacek, J.D. & Townsend, L.H. (1990) Demography of the red form of Myzus nicotianae (Homoptera: Aphididae) on burley tobacco. Journal of Economic Entomology 83, 10801084.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tavella, L. & Arzone, A. (1996) Development of Macrolophus caliginosus and Dicyphus errans on different diets (Rychota: Miridae), p. 652 in Proceedings of the 20th International Congress of Entomology.In August, 1996,Firenze. pp 25–31. Italy.Google Scholar
Throne, J.E. & Lampert, E.P. (1985) Age-specific honeydew production and life history of green peach aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae) on flue-cured tobacco. In Tobacco Science 29. pp 149152.Google Scholar