Predation of Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter on eggs of the green leafhopper and brown planthopper in rice

Abstract

SummaryThe functional response of Cyrtorhinus lividipennis feeding on brown planthopper (BPH) and green leafhopper (GLH) eggs was found to be Holling's Type II. The Random Predator Equation fitted the data satisfactorily. Using Manly's preference index, α, both the male and female C. lividipennis were found to prefer BPH eggs. There was, however, no evidence of switching and the ratio of the respective searching efficiencies could account for the preference.