Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-01T03:45:26.587Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Prey choice and substitution in Chilocorus spp. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Vaughan Hattingh  and
Michael J. Samways
Vaughan Hattingh*
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Michael J. Samways
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
*
V. Hattingh, Outspan Citrus Centre, PO Box 28, Nelspruit 1200, South Africa.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Choice between prey species by Chilocorus nigritus (Fabricius) and C. bipustulatus (Linnaeus) adults and larvae was determined. Strong preferences were absent and differences in the predators' feeding histories, were not reflected in their choices. The deleterious effects of a prey substitution, during larval development and adult maintenance, were investigated using C. nigritus with supplementary work on C. bipustulatus. These diet changes significantly retarded larval development rate, and subsequent adults were smaller than control individuals. Prey substitutions in the adult diet, suppressed oviposition for several days and feeding rate was reduced at one day after substitution. Larvae were more sensitive than adults to such diet changes. This was not a case of classical unsuitability of the new prey, as the fecundity and feeding rate returned to the same levels as before the substitution after a few days of exposure to the new prey. Furthermore, both prey types were suitable for larval development of C. nigritus when they fed on one exclusively, but unsuitable when substitutions were made. The effects of prey substitutions may possibly be attributed to the presence, in the new prey, of plant toxins, which the predators are initially not physiologically capable of dealing with in large quantities. These results present difficulties for the concepts of monophagy and polyphagy, being less well defined than normally thought. In view of coc-cinellid foraging behaviour and larval habitat selection by adults, the temporary reduction in fitness following a diet change is considered to be adaptive.

Type
Research Article
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 82 , Issue 3 , September 1992 , pp. 327 - 334
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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

Beddington, J.R., Hassell, M.P. & Lawton, J.H. (1976) The components of arthropod predation, 2. The predator rate of increase. Journal of Animal Ecology 45, 165–185.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blackman, R.L. (1967) Selection of aphid prey by Adalia bipunctata L. and Coccinella 7punctata L. Annals of Applied Biology 59, 331–338.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brattsten, L.B. (1979) Biochemical defence mechanisms in herbivores against plant allelochemicals. pp. 200–270in Rosenthal, G.A. & Janzen, D.H. (Eds) Herbivores: their interaction with secondary plant metabolites. New York, Academic Press.Google Scholar
Carter, M.C. & Dixon, A.F.G. (1982) Habitat quality and foraging behaviour of coccinellid larvae. Journal of Animal Ecology 51, 865–878.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dixon, A.F.G. (1958) The escape responses shown by certain aphids to the presence of the coccinellid Adalia decempunctata (L.). Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 110, 319–334.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hagen, K.S. (1987) Nutritional ecology of terrestrial insect predators. pp. 533–577in Slansky, F. Jr & Rodriguez, J.G. (Eds) Nutritional ecology of insects, mites, spiders and related invertebrates. New York, John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Hattingh, V. & Samways, M.J. (1990) Absence of intraspecific interference during feeding by the predatory ladybirds Chilocorus spp. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Ecological Entomology 15, 385–390.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hodek, I. (1973) Biology of Coccinellidae. 260 pp. Prague, Academia.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Iablokoff-Khnzorian, S.M. (1982) Les Coccinelles. 568 pp. Paris, Boubée.Google Scholar
Krebs, J.R., Ryan, J.C. & Charnov, E.L. (1974) Hunting by expectation or optimal foraging? A study of patch use by chickadees. Animal behaviour 22, 953–964.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moraes, G.J. de & McMurtry, J.A. (1987) Physiological effect of the host plant on the suitability of Tetranychus urticae as prey for Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Tetranychidae, Phytoseiidae). Entomophaga 32, 35–38.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nadel, D.J. & Biron, S. (1964) Laboratory studies and controlled mass rearing of Chilocorus bipustulatus Linn., a citrus scale predator in Israel. Rivisita di Parassitologia 25, 195–206.Google Scholar
Nakamuta, K. (1985) Mechanism of the switchover from extensive to area-concentrated search behaviour of the ladybird beetle, Coccinella septempunctata bruckii. Journal of Insect Physiology 31, 849–856.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Podoler, H. & Henen, J. (1986) Foraging behaviour of two species of the genus Chilocorus (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera): a comparative study. Phytoparasitica 14, 11–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rosen, D. & Gerson, U. (1965) Field studies of Chilocorus bipustulatus (L.) on citrus in Israel. Annals des Epiphytes 17, 71–76.Google Scholar
Samways, M.J. (1984) Biology and economic value of the scale predator Chilocorus nigritus (F.) (Coccinellidae). Biocontrol News and Information 5, 91–105.Google Scholar
Samways, M.J. & Mapp, J. (1983) A new method for the mass-introduction of Chilocorus nigritus (F.) (Coccinellidae) into citrus orchards. Citrus and Subtropical Fruit Journal 598, 4–6.Google Scholar
Samways, M.J. & Tate, B.A. (1986) Mass-rearing of the scale predator Chilocorus nigritus (F.) (Coccinellidae). Citrus and Subtropical Fruit Journal 630, 9–14.Google Scholar
Samways, M.J. & Wilson, S.J. (1988) Aspects of the feeding behaviour of Chilocorus nigritus (F.) (Col., Coccinellidae) relative to its effectiveness as a biocontrol agent. Journal of Applied Entomology 106, 177–182.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scriber, J.M. (1979) The effects of sequentially switching foodplants upon biomass and nitrogen utilisation by polyphagous and stenophagous Papilio larvae. Entomologia Experimentalis et applicata 25, 203–215.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Siegel, S. & Castellan, N.J. (1989) Nonparametric statistics for the behavioural sciences. 2nd edn.399 pp. Singapore, McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
Slansky, F. & Rodriguez, J.G. (1987) Nutritional ecology of insects, mites, spiders and related invertebrates: an overview. in Slansky, F. & Rodriguez, J.G. (Eds) Nutritional ecology of insects, mites, spiders and related invertebrates. New York, John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Terriere, L.C. (1984) Induction of detoxication enzymes in insects. Annual Review of Entomology 29, 71–88.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed