Prey Preference by the StinkbugPerillus bioculatus,a Predator of the Colorado Potato Beetle

Abstract

Perillus bioculatus (F.) is sometimes considered a generalist but has most often been recorded as predator of Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata. (Say). This study was designed to analyze prey selection in P. bioculatus with respect to factors that may lead to specialization. To establish if parental prey determines preference in naı̈ve progeny, prey selection experiments were conducted with the CPB and two unusual prey, the yellow mealworm Tenebrio molitor (L.) and the house cricket Acheta domesticus (L.). Naı̈ve nymphs reared from yellow mealworm-fed parents in the absence of contact with the CPB initiated feeding more frequently on CPB (81.4%) than on cricket prey (69.6%) ( P = 0.038), suggesting genetically inheritable preference for CPB. Progeny from CPBfed parents initiated feeding more frequently on CPB prey (93.3%) than on yellow mealworm prey (76.6%) ( P = 0.0001), but progeny from yellow mealwormfed parents initiated feeding on yellow mealworm prey as frequently (89.2%) as on CPB (95.0%) ( P = 0.613). Similarly, progeny from CPB-fed parents established proboscis contact more frequently on CPB (39.2%) than on house cricket prey (25.0%) ( P = 0.008), whereas those from cricket-fed parents probed house cricket prey as frequently (12.5%) as CPB prey (15.4%) ( P = 0.416). Results confirm specialization of P. bioculatus toward CPB or related prey and suggest genetically inheritable as well as maternally reinforcible affinity toward CPB prey. However, affinity of naı̈ve nymphs for the CPB can be lowered by rearing parents on alternative prey, increasing their chances of survival when alternative prey must be relied upon.