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THE FUNCTIONAL RESPONSE AND PREY PREFERENCE OF FELTIELLA ACARISUGA (VALLOT) (DIPTERA: CECIDOMYIIDAE) FOR TWO OF ITS PREY: MALE AND FEMALE TWOSPOTTED SPIDER MITES, TETRANYCHUS URTICAE KOCH (ACARI: TETRANYCHIIDAE)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

G.P. Opit
Affiliation:
Coast Agri Ltd., 19574 60th Avenue, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada V3S 8E5 and Centre for Pest Management, Simon Fraser University, Bumaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A IS6
B. Roitberg
Affiliation:
Centre for Pest Management, Simon Fraser University, Bumaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6
D.R. Gillespie
Affiliation:
Pacific Agriculture Research Centre, PO Box 1000, Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada V0M 1A0

Abstract

The preference of the predatory midge, Feltiella acarisuga (Vallot), for adult male and female twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, was examined using functional response models. The midge exhibited a type-II functional response to each prey. Handling time was estimated to be much higher for the female mites than for the males (1.52 vs. 0.40 h). Estimated instantaneous search rates for the female and male mites were similar (1.32 vs. 1.28). A preference index of 1.03 was calculated using the ratio of the instantaneous search rates. Feltiella acarisuga was found to exhibit no preference for either female or male mites; when both prey were present in equal numbers, midge larvae killed as many females as males.

Résumé

La préférence de la cécidomyie prédatrice Feltiella acarisuga (Vallot) pour les adultes mâles et femelles de la Tétranyque à deux points, Tetranychus urticae Koch, a été étudiée au moyen de modèles de réaction fonctionnelle. La cécidomyie manifestait une réaction fonctionnelle de type II à l’égard de chacune des proies. La durée de la manipulation des proies s’est avérée beaucoup plus longue lorsque les proies étaient des acariens femelles (1,52 vs. 0,40 h pour les mâles). Les taux instantanés de recherche ont été estimés et se sont avérés équivalents que les proies aient été des mâles ou des femelles (1,32 vs. 1,28). Un indice de préférence de 1,03 a été calculé à partir du rapport entre les taux instantanés de recherche. Feltiella acarisuga n’a pas manifesté de préférence particulière pour les femelles ou les mâles de l’acarien; en présence de proies des deux sexes en nombres égaux, les larvae de la cécidomyie ont tué autant de femelles que de mâles.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1997

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