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Interspecific competition between the beetles Dermestes maculatus degeer and Necrobia rufipes degeer in dried fish

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

Olusola O. Odeyemi
Olusola O. Odeyemi
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Federal University of Technology P.M.B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
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Abstract

Competition between Dermestes maculatus Degeer (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) and Necrobia rufipes Degeer (Coleoptera: Cleridae) in Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), was studied at four population levels (16,30,48 and 60), three moisture-content levels (12,15 and 20%) and three temperatures (20, 27 and 32°C). Experiments were carried out using adult insects of both species in mixtures of equal and unequal numbers. Interspecific competition between N. rufipes and D. maculatus was found to have an effect on the population growth of both beetles but to different extents. The intensity of competition is dependent on temperature, moisture content and the initial density ratio. Using the replacement series approach, it was predicted that at high adult population and moisture content, N. rufipes becomes extinct and D. maculatus dominates a mixed culture. At a temperature of 20°C, D. maculatus outcompetes N. rufipes while at 32°C, both species co-exist. This observation possibly accounts for the low occurrence or absence of N. rufipes relative to D. maculatus in commercial dried fish in areas with temperatures of 20 to 30°C.

Résumé

La compétition entre Dermestes maculatus Degeer (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) et Necrobia rufipes Degeer (Coleoptera: Cleridae) sur Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), a été étudiée à quatre niveaux de population (16, 30, 48 et 60), trois niveaux d'humidité (12, 15 et 20%) et trois niveaux de température (20,27 et 32°C). Les expériences ont été menées en utilisant des insectes adultes des deux espèces en mélanges de nombres égaux et inégaux. On a trouvé que la compétition interspecifique entre N. rufipes et D. maculatus avait un effet sur la croissance des deux coléoptères mais a dés degrés différents. L'intensité de compétition est dépendante de la température, de l'humidité et du rapport initial des densités. L'utilisation de l'approche de remplacement en série prédisait qu'à la densité elevée de la population adulte et à haut niveau d'humidite, N. rufipes s'éteignait et D. maculatus dominait en culture mixte. A la température de 20°C, D. maculatus remportait sur N. rufipes tandis qu'à 32°C, les deux espèces co-existaient. Cette observation explique éventuellement que la faible prévalence ou l'absence de N. rufipes par rapport à D. maculatus sur poissons sechés de commerce dans des régions aux températures de 20 à 30°C.

Keywords

interspecific competitionDermestes maculatusNecrobia rufipesdensitytemperaturemoisture contentcompétition interspecifiqueDermestes maculatusNecrobia rufipesdensitétempératuredegré d'humidité
Type
Research Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 17 , Issue 2 , June 1997 , pp. 213 - 220
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1997

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