Abstract
Phytophagy is a common feature among pure herbivorous insects and omnivores that utilise both plant and prey as food resources; nevertheless, experimental evidence for factors affecting their interactions is restricted to intraguild predation and predator-mediated competition. We herein focused on plant-mediated effects that could result from plant defence activation or quality alteration and compared the performance of an omnivore, the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis, and a pure herbivore, the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum, on cucumber plants previously infested with either species. Furthermore, we recorded their behavioural responses when given a choice among infested and clean plants. Whiteflies laid less eggs on plants previously exposed to thrips but more on whitefly-infested plants. Thrips survival was negatively affected on whitefly-infested than on thrips-infested or clean plants. Notably, whiteflies developed significantly faster on plants infested with conspecifics. In accordance, whiteflies avoided thrips-infested plants and preferred whitefly-infested over clean plants. Thrips showed no preference for either infested or clean plants. Our study is a first report on the role of plant-mediated effects in shaping omnivore-herbivore interactions. Considering the factors driving such interactions we will likely better understand the ecology of the more complex relationships among plants and pest organisms.
Highlights
Phytophagy is a common feature among pure herbivorous insects and omnivores that utilise both plant and prey as food resources; experimental evidence for factors affecting their interactions is restricted to intraguild predation and predator-mediated competition
In the short term apparent mutualism was shown for F. occidentalis and T. vaporariorum in the presence of the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii[11], whereas the same arthropods plus the spider mite Tetranychus urticae in the long-term engaged in apparent competition resulting in improved whitefly and spider mite control[12]
Plant-mediated effects are recognized as major forces in shaping herbivore interactions[2,13,14]
Summary
Phytophagy is a common feature among pure herbivorous insects and omnivores that utilise both plant and prey as food resources; experimental evidence for factors affecting their interactions is restricted to intraguild predation and predator-mediated competition. We focused on plantmediated effects that could result from plant defence activation or quality alteration and compared the performance of an omnivore, the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis, and a pure herbivore, the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum, on cucumber plants previously infested with either species. We recorded their behavioural responses when given a choice among infested and clean plants. The above studies was attributed to predator facilitation in the presence of more than one pest species without considering intraguild predation and/or plant-mediated interactions among the competing herbivores
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