Abstract
ABSTRACT The ring-legged earwig Euborellia annulipes has been studied as a natural enemy of pest-insects and a potential predator of diamondback moth. Temperature is an important factor that mediates the pest population density and may affect the predator-prey relationship dynamics. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the temperature and development stage of Plutella xylostella individuals on the feeding preference of E. annulipes females. Three temperatures (18 ºC, 25 ºC and 32 ºC), two development stages (larvae and pupae) and two feeding conditions related to the prey capture (with or without choice) were assessed. No matter the temperature, ring-legged earwig females showed a preference for eating larvae, instead of pupae. The temperature and choice conditions influenced the amount of consumed preys, but only for larvae (not for pupae). The lowest larvae consumption was observed at 18 ºC, in both prey capture conditions.
Highlights
Brassicas (Brassicaceae) are vegetables cropped worldwide that have several nutritional and bioenergetic properties (Soengas et al 2011)
Despite Brassica spp. being easy to cultivate, the damages caused by Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), known as diamondback moth, affect the crop yield and generate high economic impacts by increasing management and control costs (Zalucki et al 2012)
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the temperature and development stage of P. xylostella on the feeding preference of E. annulipes
Summary
Brassicas (Brassicaceae) are vegetables cropped worldwide that have several nutritional and bioenergetic properties (Soengas et al 2011). Despite Brassica spp. being easy to cultivate, the damages caused by Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), known as diamondback moth, affect the crop yield and generate high economic impacts by increasing management and control costs (Zalucki et al 2012). The applied synthetic products commonly generate high toxicological risks to the environment and to human beings, besides resulting in the evolution of insect resistance after continuous applications (Tsaboula et al 2016, Troczka et al 2017). Biological control has been increasingly emphasized as one of the possibilities for the reduction of pest infestations in agricultural crops, especially in scenarios in which the reduction or elimination of pesticides is linked to integrated pest management approaches. Formulated bioinsecticides have been used as substitutes for synthetic insecticides; P. xylostella larvae present a rapid resistance evolution to both types of products (Furlong et al 2013). The number of researches focused on natural enemies
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