The contribution of a beneficial insectary plant Scaevola aemula to survival and long-term establishment of flightless Harmonia axyridis in greenhouses

Abstract

The fairy fan flower, Scaevola aemula R. Br., is a primary candidate insectary plant for maintaining populations of generalist predators. We conducted release experiments in greenhouses of cultivated eggplants to evaluate the effects of intercropping S. aemula on the establishment of flightless Harmonia axyridis Pallas. Compared with a monoculture of eggplant, all release experiments showed that flightless H. axyridis remained in greater numbers in plots with S. aemula planted alongside eggplant. In the release experiment of flightless H. axyridis larvae, the incidence of aphids in the plot with transplanted S. aemula was suppressed compared with that in the release plot without transplanted S. aemula. In a laboratory experiment, the longevity of flightless H. axyridis adults on blossom stems of S. aemula was greater than when open flowers and buds were removed, suggesting that the insects fed on floral resources such as the pollen of S. aemula. Our findings showed that the floral resources of S. aemula can enhance aphid suppression by improving the establishment of flightless H. axyridis.