Predatory functional response and fitness parameters of Orius strigicollis Poppius when fed Bemisia tabaci and Trialeurodes vaporariorum as determined by age-stage, two-sex life table.

Shakeel Ur Rehman,Muhammad Aamir Sohail,Shahzaib Ali,Xingmiao Zhou,Haris Khurram,Muhammad Asim Rasheed,Yasir Islam,Muhammad Hafeez

doi:10.7717/peerj.9540

Abstract

BackgroundThe polyphagous predatory bug O. strigicollis is an active predator used to control thrips and aphids. The whitefly species Bemisia tabaci and Trialeurodes vaporariorum are voracious pests of different economic agricultural crops and vegetables.MethodIn this study, the Holling disc equation and the age-stage, two-sex life table technique were used to investigate the functional response and biological traits of third instar nymphs and adult female O. strigicollis when presented third instar nymphs of both whitefly species as prey.ResultsThe results showed a type II functional response for each life stage of O. strigicollis when fed each whitefly species. The calculated prey handling time for different O. strigicollis life stages were shorter when fed T. vaporariorum than when fed B. tabaci nymphs. In contrast, the nymphal development of O. strigicollis was significantly shorter when fed B. tabaci than T. vaporariorum nymphs. Additionally, the total pre-oviposition period of adult females was statistically shorter when fed B. tabaci nymphs than T. vaporariorum nymphs. Furthermore, the survival rates and total fecundity of O. strigicollis were higher when fed B. tabaci than T. vaporariorum. There were no significant differences in any population parameters of O. strigicollis when fed either whitefly species. These results show that O. strigicollis could survive and maintain its populations on both species of whitefly and could therefore serve as a biological control agent in integrated pest management (IPM).

Highlights

Invasive insect pests can significantly disturb native insect communities and cause considerable damage to agriculture and forests (Pimentel et al, 2000)
When only four nymphs of B. tabaci and T. vaporariorum were provided, the third instar nymphs of O. strigicollis consumed a mean of 3.8 ±0.097 and 3.3 ±0.128 nymphs per predator per day, respectively, indicating that the predator is more efficient at finding whitefly nymphs at low prey densities
There were no significant differences found in maximum prey consumption by adult female O. strigicollis (92% and 92.5%) when preying on nymphs of B. tabaci and T. vaporariorum, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Invasive insect pests can significantly disturb native insect communities and cause considerable damage to agriculture and forests (Pimentel et al, 2000). Whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) are the most damaging insect pests to agricultural crops globally, including China where more than 1450 species are known (Martin, Mifsud & Rapisarda, 2000; Anderson et al, 2004; Lapidot et al, 2014) Included in these species are the silver-leaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum), which are generally considered responsible for major economic losses. Trialeurodes vaporariorum, commonly known as greenhouse whitefly, is considered an important pest of vegetable and agricultural crops but transmits fewer viruses than does B. tabaci (Wisler et al, 1998; Jones, 2003; Brown, 2007; Navas-Castillo, Fiallo-Olivé & Sánchez-Campos, 2011; López et al, 2012). These results show that O. strigicollis could survive and maintain its populations on both species of whitefly and could serve as a biological control agent in integrated pest management (IPM)

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