Abstract
We evaluated the competition among stored-product psocid species by conducting two series of laboratory experiments. In the first series, three species of Liposcelididae were used: Liposcelis bostrychophila, Liposcelis decolor, and Liposcelis paeta. Five adult females of these species were placed in vials containing wheat, either alone or in all possible combinations of two species. The number of adults in the vials was counted after 35, 70, 105, 140, and 175 days. These tests were performed at 25 and 30°C. At 25°C, there were no differences in numbers of L. bostrychophila when this species was reared either alone or with each of the other two species. At 30°C, L. bostrychophila was the dominant species. The presence of L. bostrychophila had a negative effect on the growth of populations of L. decolor and L. paeta. The presence of L. paeta did not affect growth of populations of L. decolor, although the presence of L. decolor occasionally reduced growth of populations of L. paeta. In the second series of tests, L. bostrychophila adult females were placed in vials of wheat either alone or with adult females of Lepinotus reticulatus, at the ratios of (L. bostrychophila: L. reticulatus) 10∶0, 9∶1, 7∶3, 5∶5, 3∶7, 1∶9, and 0∶10. These tests were carried out only at 30°C, and the observation periods were the same as for the first series of tests. Liposcelis bostrychophila was the dominant species in this case as well, regardless of the ratio of the parental females. At the end of the experimental period, L. reticulatus was present only in vials that contained this species alone. Our results showed that L. bostrychophila outcompetes the other stored-product psocid species tested.
Highlights
The insect community in the stored-grain agroecosystem consists of several categories of species, such as primary and secondary colonizers, fungus feeders, scavengers, predators, and parasitoids [1]
After 70 days at 30uC, there were more L. bostrychophila when reared alone than when they were reared with L. decolor, while after 105 days where there were more L. bostrychophila when reared alone than when they were reared with L. paeta
At 30uC for the first 105 days, there were more L. paeta when they were reared alone than when they were reared with L. decolor, and the fewest L. paeta were found when they were reared with L. bostrychophila
Summary
The insect community in the stored-grain agroecosystem consists of several categories of species, such as primary and secondary colonizers, fungus feeders, scavengers, predators, and parasitoids [1]. These species coexist and infest the product at various population densities [2,3]. In contrast with field pests where pest control measures often can be directed toward control of one major pest species, pest control measures for durable stored products need to be selected to control the multiple species that coexist in these commodities. During the last two decades only a few studies have examined the coexistence of multiple species and its possible incorporation into management practices. Athanassiou and Saitanis [5], in a flat wheat storage, found different spatiotemporal distribution between the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella, and its parasitoids Harbobracon hebetor and Venturia canescens
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