Predator Diversity Research Articles

Extending trait dispersion across trophic levels: Predator assemblages act as top-down filters on prey communities.

Studies of community assembly typically focus on the effects of abiotic environmental filters and stabilizing competition on functional trait dispersion within single trophic levels. Predation is a well-known driver of community diversity and composition, yet the role of functionally diverse predator communities in filtering prey community traits has received less attention. We examined functionally diverse communities of predators (fishes) and prey (epifaunal crustaceans) in eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds in two northern California estuaries to evaluate the filtering effects of predator traits on community assembly and how filters acting on predators influence their ability to mediate prey community assembly. Fish traits related to bottom orientation were correlated with more clustered epifauna communities, and epifauna were generally overdispersed while fishes were clustered, suggesting prey may be pushed to disparate areas of trait space to avoid capture by benthic sit-and-wait predators. We also found correlations between the trait dispersions of predator and prey communities that strengthened after accounting for the effects of habitat filters on predator dispersion, suggesting that habitat filtering effects on predator species pools may hinder their ability to affect prey community assembly. Our results present compelling observational evidence that specific predator traits have measurable impacts on the community assembly of prey, inviting experimental tests of predator trait means on community assembly and explicit comparisons of how the relative effects of habitat filters and intraguild competition on predators impact their ability to affect prey community assembly. Integrating our understanding of traits at multiple trophic levels can help us better predict the impacts of community composition on food web dynamics as regional species pools shift with climate change and anthropogenic introductions.

Unleashing nature's defenders: Farmer-managed natural enemies field reservoirs (NEFRs) enhance management of the invasive papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) in coastal Kenya

The papaya mealybug (PMB), Paracoccus marginatus, infests a wide range of plant species, including economically important crops, like papaya, citrus, cassava, and avocado, leading to significant economic losses. The parasitoid, Acerophagous papayae has been shown to manage the pest and was introduced in three coastal counties of Kenya from 2021. Natural Enemies Field Reservoirs (NEFRs), a technology that serves as in-situ production of A.papayae, were established in farmers’ fields in the three counties to assess their effectiveness in controlling the papaya mealybug in Kenya. Three treatments were set up including a. ‘No prior A. papayae release + NEFR’, b. ‘Prior A. papayae release + NEFR’, and c. ‘Prior A. papayae release but no NEFR’ (control). PMB populations decreased by 49.12 % and 62.8 % in treatments a and b, respectively, but increased by 37.6 % in the control. On the other hand, the absolute count of A. papayae increased by 456 %, 190 % and 51.6 % in treatments a, b and c, the control, respectively. Consequently, the parasitism rates increased by 116.7 % and 17.8 % in treatments a, and b, respectively but declined by 10.3 % in the control. The most abundant predators out of ten recovered genera were Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (44.0 %), Tenuisvalvae notata (23.9 %) and Exochomus sp. (19.9 %). The highest abundance and diversity of predators was recorded in treatment b ‘Prior A. papayae release + NEFR’ and the least abundance and diversity in the control. This study sheds light in the critical role of NEFRs in the management of PMB and its underscored potential as an effective, low-cost, farmer managed technology is discussed.

Non-target impacts of hail netting and insecticides on natural enemy abundance and diversity in a Midwestern U.S. commercial apple orchard

A variety of exclusion systems for integrated pest management (IPM) have become viable alternatives to traditional insecticide use in tree fruit production globally. Exclusion netting has been particularly effective as a control strategy for several insect pests of apple. In Minnesota, USA, hail netting, used to protect high-value fruit from hail damage, was recently shown to effectively exclude the two major insect pests: codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.) and apple maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella Walsh). The present study aimed to determine the impact of single-row, drape-style hail netting (DrapeNet®) on the natural enemy community and how this compared to the impact of insecticides used by a Minnesota grower. Sampling occurred during 2021 and 2022 at two orchard locations in Minnesota using yellow sticky traps. Natural enemies were identified to the family level, and these data were examined to determine family richness, diversity, and relative abundance. Compared to unnetted rows, rows covered with hail netting had a significant reduction in both family richness and predator abundance, as measured by yellow sticky traps. The overall abundance of the three most common predator families, Anthocoridae, Empididae, and Coccinellidae, along with other families, was significantly reduced under netting. By contrast, using Simpson's diversity index we found that family diversity was significantly higher under netting, while the insecticides used did not affect diversity. These findings indicate that non-target effects of netting include a general reduction in the abundance of natural enemies and the disproportionate exclusion of Anthocoridae. However, predator diversity was higher under netting, indicating that biological control services could remain intact under netting even with modest use of insecticides.

A bizarre new plioplatecarpine mosasaurid from the Maastrichtian of Morocco

The Upper Maastrichtian of Morocco has produced a remarkably diverse fauna of mosasaurids, the most diverse known for any time or place. As apex predators, Mosasauridae provide a picture of the marine ecosystem just before the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. Here we describe a bizarre new plioplatecarpine mosasaurid, Khinjaria acuta, characterized by enlarged, dagger-like anterior teeth, short, robust jaws, and posterior elongation of the skull. Khinjaria is related to Goronyosaurus nigeriensis from Nigeria and Niger, and Gavialimimus almaghribensis from Morocco. These species form a distinct clade of specialized mosasaurids so far unknown outside of Africa. Mosasaurids show high endemism in the Maastrichtian, with different lineages occurring in different regions, implying that mosasaurid diversity is underestimated because of limited geographic sampling. The large size, robust jaws, akinetic skull, and bladelike teeth of Khinjaria suggest it was an apex predator, but the unusual skull and jaw differ from those of contemporary predators like Hainosaurus, Thalassotitan, and Mosasaurus, suggesting a distinct feeding strategy. Mosasaurids became increasingly specialized in the latest Cretaceous, repeatedly evolving to occupy the apex predator niche, suggesting a diverse marine ecosystem persisted up to the K/Pg boundary. Late Cretaceous marine ecosystems differ from modern marine ecosystems in the high diversity of large predators.

Temporal variation in tree diversity effects on birds and its implications for top-down control of insect herbivores in a tropical system.

Tree diversity promotes predator abundance and diversity, but evidence linking these effects to increased predation pressure on herbivores remains limited. In addition, tree diversity effects on predators can vary temporally as a function of environmental variation, or due to contrasting responses by different predator types. In a multi-year study, we assessed temporal variation in tree diversity effects on bird communityabundance, diversity, and predation rates as a whole and by functional group based on feeding guild (omnivores vs. insectivores) and migratory status (migrant vs. resident). To this end, we conducted bird point counts in tree monocultures and polycultures and assessed attacks on clay caterpillars four times over a 2-year period in a tree diversity experiment in Yucatan, Mexico. Tree diversity effects on the bird community varied across surveys, with positive effects on bird abundance and diversity in most but not all surveys. Tree diversity had stronger and more consistent effects on omnivorous and resident birds than on insectivorous and migratory species. Tree diversity effects on attack rates also varied temporally but patterns did not align with variation in bird abundance or diversity. Thus, while we found support for predicted increases in bird abundance, diversity, and predation pressure with tree diversity, these responses exhibited substantial variation over time and the former twowere uncoupled from patterns of predation pressure, as well as contingent on bird functional traits. These results underscore the need for long-term studies measuring responses by different predator functional groups to better understand tree diversity effects on top-down control.

Rodents show darker and redder coloration in warm and rainy environments

AbstractAimAnimal coloration varies in response to environmental conditions. One well‐known principle, Gloger's rule, suggests that warmer and wetter environments lead to more pigmented animals. Yet, the original formulation lacks differentiation between the two primary melanin pigments: eumelanin and pheomelanin. We examined spatial eumelanin and pheomelanin variation to unravel the impact of various ecological factors on pigment deposition, and to assess support for the complex version of Gloger's rule.LocationSouth America.Time PeriodContemporary.Major Taxa StudiedSigmodontine rodents.MethodsWe extracted pelage color data from 231 species and quantified the geographic variation in eu‐ and pheomelanin deposition. We performed linear multiple regression to investigate the influence of temperature, precipitation, predator diversity, and UVA‐B radiance in eumelanin (lightness) and pheomelanin (redness).ResultsOur findings support the original formulations of Gloger's rule. Rodents in warmer and rainier regions, which also entails greater exposure to UV radiation and a diverse range of predators, exhibit darker‐colored pelage. In addition, redder rodents prevail in warmer environments. However, contrary to the rule predictions, we observe a reversal for reddish patterns in relation to precipitation, with rainier regions showcasing more intense red rodents.Main ConclusionsOur study breaks new ground by investigating previously unexplored facets of Gloger's rule in a continental mammalian group. We discovered compelling evidence that darker and redder coloration aligns closely with temperature and rainfall gradients. Although we found support for eumelanin–pelage predictions, expectations for pheomelanin pigmentation were only partially met. Our results might suggest that selective pressures act differently on dark and reddish coloration, revealing that coloration patterns in response to climate are more intricate than previously formulated.

Local Habitat Complexity and Its Effects on Herbivores and Predators in Urban Agroecosystems.

In urban community gardens, cultivated vegetation provides variable levels of habitat complexity, which can suppress pests by promoting predator diversity and improving pest control. In this study, we examine three components of the structural complexity of garden vegetation (cover, diversity, and connectivity) to investigate whether higher garden vegetation complexity leads to fewer herbivores, more predators, and higher predation. We worked in eight community gardens where we quantified vegetation complexity, sampled the arthropod community, and measured predation on corn earworm eggs. We found that plots with high vegetation cover supported higher species richness and greater abundance of predatory insects. High vegetation cover also supported a greater abundance and species richness of spiders. In contrast, high vegetation diversity was negatively associated with predator abundance. While high predator abundance was positively associated with egg predation, greater predator species richness had a negative impact on egg predation, suggesting that antagonism between predators may limit biological control. Community gardeners may thus manipulate vegetation cover and diversity to promote higher predator abundance and diversity in their plots. However, the species composition of predators and the prevalence of interspecific antagonism may ultimately determine subsequent impacts on biological pest control.

Effects of Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) on Parasitoid and Predator Diversity and Abundance in Agroecosystems Especially in Rice

Effects of Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) on Parasitoid and Predator Diversity and Abundance in Agroecosystems Especially in Rice

Seasonal abundance of key alfalfa (Fabaceae) seed production pests and their natural enemies in southern Alberta, Canada

Abstract The economic importance of insect pests in agricultural fields and the potential biological control by their natural enemies warrant foundational studies for the development of integrated pest management strategies. An insect survey was conducted in alfalfa (Fabaceae) seed production fields in southern Alberta, Canada, during the bud, flowering, and seed crop stages in 2020 and 2021. We examined the seasonal abundance of Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze) (Hemiptera: Miridae), Lygus spp. Hahn (Hemiptera: Miridae), and 12 natural enemy taxa. We also examined the seasonal abundance, richness, and diversity of generalist predators and the seasonality of the two H. postica parasitoids, Bathyplectes curculionis (Thomson) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) and Oomyzus incertus (Ratzeburg) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). The seasonality of pests and natural enemies was inconsistent between years. Hypera postica larvae, B. curculionis, and O. incertus were present from mid-June to mid-August. However, we detected no correlations between H. postica larvae and its two parasitoids in either year. A number of generalist predators were correlated with A. lineolatus and Lygus spp. Further research is needed to understand the effects of environmental and biotic factors on the seasonality of pests and natural enemies in alfalfa seed production fields, and the insects’ trophic interactions.

Response of Spider and Epigaeic Beetle Assemblages to Overwinter Planting Regimes and Surrounding Landscape Compositions.

The rotation patterns of summer rice-winter oil seed rape and summer rice-winter fallow are the main planting regimes in the rice ecosystem in southern China. However, the impact of local rotation patterns and landscape factors on the overwintering conservation of predators in spider and epigaeic beetle assemblages remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the diversity and density of spiders and beetles over two consecutive winters (2019/2020 and 2020/2021), focusing on the impact of two rotation patterns (rice-fallow and rice-oilseed rape) and surrounding landscape compositions on predator diversity. The main findings of our research were that spiders were more abundant and had a higher activity density in the fallow rice fields (FRs) compared to the oilseed rape fields (OSRs), whereas ground beetles exhibited the opposite pattern. Specifically, fallow rice fields supported small and ballooning spiders (e.g., dominant spider: Ummeliata insecticeps), while OSRs supported larger ground beetles (e.g., dominant beetles: Agonum chalcomus and Pterostichus liodactylus). Moreover, the composition of spider assemblages were impacted by semi-natural habitats (SNHs) during overwintering, while ground beetle assemblages were influenced by overwinter planting patterns. Overall, our results suggest that different planting regimes and preserving semi-natural habitats are a strategic way to enhance species diversity and functional diversity of ground predators. It is, therefore, recommended that to conserve and improve predator diversity during overwintering, land managers and farmers should aim to maintain diverse planting regimes and conserve local semi-natural habitats.

Sown Covers Enhance the Diversity and Abundance of Ground-Dwelling Predators in Mediterranean Pear Orchards

Intensive agriculture has a strong impact on the structure of arthropod communities in soil. Sown covers can contribute to their conservation, especially for generalist predators such as spiders and predatory beetles. The aim of this research was to assess the effect of cover crop management on the abundance and diversity of ground-dwelling arthropods. For this purpose, a three-year experiment was conducted in a pear orchard that was divided into three blocks with two plots each: one with a sown cover of mixed plants from different families, including Boraginaceae, Asteraceae, Apiaceae, Brassicaceae, and Fabaceae, and the other with no cover, in which any spontaneous plants were periodically removed without using herbicides. The abundance of ground-dwelling arthropods was sampled using pitfall traps. The sown cover increased the overall richness of arthropods. Additionally, spiders from the families Lycosidae and Linyphiidae, as well as beetles from the families Carabidae and Staphylinidae, were more abundant in the sown cover. Conversely, detritivores such as collembolans and beetles from the family Tenebrionidae were less abundant in the cover. The abundance of ants was not affected by the type of cover. The sown cover increased the diversity of arthropods in the crop, as well as the abundance of generalist predators.

Predator recognition learning by northern redbelly dace Chrosomus eos from a small kettle lake with a dynamic predator community

Predation, and the risk of predation, shape the ecology, behavior, and evolution of many species. Small fishes navigate a perilous landscape of risk in the shallow waters of the littoral zone. Moreover, in small lakes, the predator community can be dynamic due to stochastic colonization and extirpation events. These conditions select for the ability by small fish to acquire recognition of novel predators through associative learning. Chemical cues associated with predation events, such as damage-released chemical cues from conspecifics, and the odor of predators, inform prey of the presence of risk, and facilitate acquired recognition of novel predator odor. Deming Lake, MN, is a small meromictic lake with intermittent connections to neighboring lakes in the watershed. Annual sampling of the littoral fish community between the years 2000 and 2023 reveals a history of colonization and extirpation by relatively large-bodied species such as yellow perch Perca flavescens and pumpkinseed sunfish Lepomis gibbosus. Ice cover data, combined with limnological depth profiles of dissolved oxygen, confirm that dissolved oxygen is limiting during the winter and consistent with the hypothesis that extirpation of large-bodied species in Deming Lake is likely due to winter anoxia. These data set the stage for an experimental demonstration of acquired recognition of the odor of allopatric rock bass Ambloplites rupestris by bass-naïve northern redbelly dace Chrosomus eos from Deming Lake. Rock bass have been absent from Deming Lake since at least the year 2000. Predator-recognition learning allows redbelly dace, and many other small-bodied fishes that face variable predator species over ontogenetic, spatial, and temporal scales, a mechanism to adapt quickly to indicators of predation risk.

A chimpanzee’s time to feast: seasonality of Macrotermes flight hole activity and alate dispersal flights detected by termite-fishing experiments and camera traps in the Issa Valley, Tanzania

IntroductionInvestigation into chimpanzee termite-fishing behavior has provided invaluable insights into the evolution of animal tool use and culture. However, research to date often overlooks how the ecology of termites may shape the nature of this predator–prey interaction. Though anecdotal links between meteorological factors, termite dispersal flights and the ability of chimpanzees to termite-fish have been made, these relationships were never empirically tested. In this study, we examined if and how the reproductive ecology of mound building termites (Macrotermes subhyalinus) affects the availability of this resource to termite-fishing chimpanzees in the Issa Valley, Tanzania.MethodsWe utilized in-person termite-fishing experiments, remote camera trap footage, as well as meteorological data to model both the availability of termite prey across seasons for chimpanzees as well as the timing of dispersal flights of the termite reproductive caste (alates). Additionally, we describe the predator diversity that characterizes alate swarming events during their seasonal dispersal flights.ResultsWe identify strong relationships between meteorological factors, Macrotermes alate dispersal flights and vulnerability of the colony to predation. As rainfall accumulates, Macrotermes become more abundant in their flight holes and are thus more vulnerable to researcher termite-fishing experiments. This increased accessibility to Macrotermes continues until alate dispersal flights which we also find are linked to cumulative rainfall as well as negatively correlated to wind speed.DiscussionThis type of baseline data on Macrotermes ecology is fundamental when forming hypotheses and designing studies into topics such as chimpanzee culture, tool-use, and foraging cognition.

Studies on Diversity of Major Insect Pests and Coccinellid Predators on Mustard Crop Ecosystem in Relation to Abiotic Factors

The present experiment was conducted to record the occurrence of insect pests and coccinellid predators on mustard crop ecosystem during rabi season 2021-22 and 2022-23 at Technological Park, Sardar Vallabh bhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Modi Puram, Uttar Pradesh. Total five major insect pests and different species of coccinellids were found associated with the mustard crop. Mustard sawfly, Painted bugs, Green stink bugs appeared during the early stages (48th SW to till 5th SW) and disappeared in the later part of the crop period. Cabbage butterfly was observed in the middle of the crop period (3rd to 11 SW). Mustard aphid and coccinellids were associated largely with the mustard crop i.e, from 48th SW to till harvest of the crop. Correlation studies revealed that the temperature and relative humidity are the two most important weather parameters that influence the insect pests and coccinellid population of mustard crop ecosystem.

The Existence of Predatory Insects in the Agroecosystem of Potato Plant (Solanum tuberosum L.) Integrated with Refugia Plants

Inappropriate handling of pests can cause substantial losses in both quantity and quality of potato plants. One of the promising alternative methods is by modifying the agroecosystem such as using refugia plants to conserve the diversity of predators in potato plants. This study aimed to determine the effect of refugia plants on the diversity of predatory insects in potato plants. This study used a randomized block design (RBD) with 6 treatments and 3 replications. Sampling of predatory insects was carried out using traps, namely the yellow pan trap and direct (conventional) collection. The results of this study indicated that there were 3 orders of predatory insects from 3 families and 9 species. The most common insects were found in the treatment of marigold and sunflower flowers. The highest diversity index value was 1.33 obtained in the sunflower treatment, which is classified as moderate

Rhizosphere shapes the associations between protistan predators and bacteria within microbiomes through the deterministic selection on bacterial communities.

The assembly of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere is well-documented and plays a crucial role in supporting plant performance. However, we have limited knowledge of how plant rhizosphere determines the assembly of protistan predators and whether the potential associations between protistan predators and bacterial communities shift due to rhizosphere selection. To address this, we examined bacterial and protistan taxa from 443 agricultural soil samples including bulk and rhizosphere soils. Our results presented distinct patterns of bacteria and protistan predators in rhizosphere microbiome assembly. Community assembly of protistan predators was determined by a stochastic process in the rhizosphere and the diversity of protistan predators was reduced in the rhizosphere compared to bulk soils, these may be attributed to the indirect impacts from the altered bacterial communities that showed deterministic process assembly in the rhizosphere. Interestingly, we observed that the plant rhizosphere facilitates more close interrelationships between protistan predators and bacterial communities, which might promote a healthy rhizosphere microbial community for plant growth. Overall, our findings indicate that the potential predator-prey relationships within the microbiome, mediated by plant rhizosphere, might contribute to plant performance in agricultural ecosystems.

Diversity of predators and population Spodoptera frugiperda J.E Smith by application botanical insecticide and intercropping cover crops

Fall armyworm or Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith is one of the invasive pest in maize cultivation. Fall armyworm attacks can cause a decrease in production yields or even a loss of yields at high levels of pest investment. To control S. frugiperda populations, farmers use chemical insecticides to reduce pest populations. In Integrated pest management, preventive action needs to be taken, for example, by managing agroecosystems to increase the diversity of beneficial arthropods and as a control action by using botanical insecticides from plant extract. Therefore, this study aims to find out the effectiveness of various cover crops and application botanical insecticide to increasing the diversity of predators and decreasing S. frugiperda population. The method used in this study was descriptive experimental with a randomized group design consisting of 4 treatments of intercrop, Arachis pintoi (AMB), Portulaca oleracea (PMB), Desmodium triflorum (DMB) and without intercrop as control (MB), all of which were sprayed with botanical insecticides with concentration 5%. As a comparison, observations will be made on the farmer treatment. Data analysis for used ANOVA and those that were significantly different were tested futher with Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. The results showed that the diversity index of predators on AMB was significantly higher than other treatments, while the S. frugiperda population at 8 observations was found most in the MB and farmer treatments but had no significant difference with the other treatments. The attack intensity of S. frugiperda on cover crops and botanical insecticide treatment showed lower results and was significantly different compared to MB and farmer treatment. Our results also show the index value of arthropod diversity in the AMB treatment is higher than the other treatments. We can conclude that agroecosystem management with combination of intercropping cover crops and application botanical insecticide can increase the diversity of predators and decrease population and attack intensity of S. frugiperda in maize cultivation.

Impact of Pesticides on Diversity and Abundance of Predatory Arthropods in Rice Ecosystem

Rice (Oryza sativa) is one of the most important cereal crops with a diverse set of pests and natural enemies. Rice fields often support a high diversity of arthropods which contribute significantly to productivity. This diversity is frequently threatened due to indiscriminate applications of pesticides. Our aim was to emphasize on the predator diversity in agrochemical exposed rice field as well as on the impact of surrounding vegetation on beneficial insect diversity. Natural enemies’ data were recorded from randomly selected 10 quadrates by visual observation from each treatment. A total of 5,590 individuals of predators were observed during the study period which included 27 species belonging to 16 families from five orders of arthropods during the kharif season of rice. Statistically, there were no significant differences between the population of general natural enemies such as Odonata, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Araneae in plots with insecticide and control during the different growth stages of rice cultivation. Diversity indices were almost similar in fields where pesticide was sprayed and not sprayed. Our study concluded that natural enemies are conserved by ensuring crop heterogeneity, growing insect-friendly plants (with high levels of nectar and pollen) as border crops, and judicious application of granule insecticide like cartap hydrochloride in a rice agro-ecosystem.

Predation Risk Drives Aposematic Signal Conformity.

Contrary to expectations regarding efficient predator education mediated by lack of ambiguity and enhanced prey recognition, aposematic signals often show considerable intraspecific variability. For example, some striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) are almost entirely white, others have black-and-white stripes of equivalent thicknesses, yet others are mostly black. We tested the ecological correlates of this variation in patterning using 749 museum skins collected across North America. Skunks had longer white-black borders and more bilaterally symmetrical stripes in areas with a greater number of potential predator species, and this effect was more marked for mammalian than avian predators, the latter of which may be less deterred by noxious defenses. Skunks from locations with greater predator diversity were less variable in extent of whiteness on their dorsa and less variable in the length of their white-black borders, suggesting strong selection from predators leads to greater conformity in stripe patterns, even at the same location, but weak selection from predators leads to relaxed selection on pattern conformity. Skunks exhibited greater areas of black pelage in areas of greater humidity conforming to Gloger's rule. Our results indicate that relaxed predation pressure is key to warning signal variation in this iconic species, whereas stronger pressure leads to signal conformity and stronger signals.

Functional identity of dominant species in a predator community prevails over functional diversity in shaping the top‐down control of herbivores

Abstract Decline in species richness as well as changes in community evenness or functional diversity have been hypothesised to jointly affect ecosystem functioning. However, disentangling the relative effects of these changes in community structure is hard as these different aspects often covary with species richness in real‐world ecosystems. In this study, we investigated the individual and interactive effects of functional diversity and community evenness of predators on the level of control of herbivorous prey. Using a highly replicated mesocosm experiment, we crossed three levels of functional diversity of arthropod predators with two levels of community evenness while controlling for the effect of species richness. Using this experimental setting, we hypothesised that the effect size of functional diversity of predators depends on community evenness. We expected a positive effect of functional diversity of predators on top‐down control at high level of community evenness while we thought that species identity and their associated traits should drive most of the effect on top‐down control at low level of community evenness. Our results did not provide any evidence for an interaction between functional diversity and community evenness nor any beneficial effect of increased functional diversity overall on predation rates of herbivorous prey. In addition, our results revealed that species and functional identity drives most of the effects of predator community composition on top‐down control of their prey in our study system. Assemblages composed of active hunters with low handling time and no starvation ability tended to have the highest impacts on prey biomass. By indicating that top‐down control of herbivorous prey by arthropod predators is mainly driven by species and functional identity and not by functional diversity, our study provides insights into the consequences of ongoing species loss on ecosystem functioning. Future research should now explore the predictability of trophic interactions based on functional traits of predator and herbivorous prey to anticipate the consequences of changes in species composition on ecosystem functioning. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.