Pollen as a component of the diet of Doru luteipes (Scudder, 1876) (Dermaptera: Forficulidade)

Abstract

The properties of maize pollen in the diet of Doru luteipes were determined by biological responses of the predator feeding on natural preys and artificial diet. The biological parameters of D. luteipes fed on Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith, 1797) eggs, maize pollen, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch, 1856) + maize pollen and R. maidis were assessed. The effect of pollen on artificial diet on the biological variables of the predator nymphs and adults were also evaluated. Time span of nymphal development was greater for D. luteipes exclusively fed on earwigs, with the lowest rate of nymph survival. However, maize pollen plus earwigs in the diet provided the predator´s highest survival rate, whilst percentage of fertile females was double when fed on diets composed of S. frugiperda and R. maidis eggs. Development period decreased when D. luteipes nymphs consumed artificial diet plus pollen but there were high fecundity rates (number of laying/female and total egg/female) and a greater percentage of fertile females when they were fed on maize pollen.

How omnivory affects the survival and choices of earwig Doru luteipes (Scudder) (Dermaptera: Forficulidae)?

“…Although D. luteipes has completed its developmental cycle by feeding exclusively on uredospores, this food should be considered only as a complementary food, since it prolongs the duration of the young phase and reduces the survival rate of nymphs. Marucci et al (2019) observed a similar result when D. luteipes was fed exclusively with pollen. Although pollen is an essential nutrient for the reproductive phase of D. luteipes, it is detrimental during the nymph development stage.…”

“…The common earwig Doru luteipes (Dermaptera, Forficulidae) is an omnivorous predator with cryptic and tigmotact habit hidden during the day, but active at night (Lamb and Wellington, 1975;Romero-Sueldo et al, 2010;Naranjo-Guevara et al, 2017). The corn plant is the preferred habitat for this species, as the cartridge and the ear provide a dark and damp shelter (Jarvis et al, 2005;Pasini et al, 2007;Naranjo-Guevara et al, 2017), and different food sources (Marucci et al, 2019).…”

“…Doru luteipes also feed on corn pollen, which provides increased survival and fertility (Marucci et al, 2019). However, according to Schuldiner-Harpaz and Coll (2017), plants providing a dietary supplement to omnivorous predators can influence biological control in two ways: i) by increasing the predator populations or ii) reducing the prey consumption.…”

Fungivory: a new and complex ecological function of Doru luteipes (Scudder) (Dermaptera: Forficulidae)

“…The ability to feed on corn pollen enables D. luteipes to survive under the low availability of prey. This situation strongly evidences the relationship between this predatory species and the maize plants (Marucci et al, 2019).…”

“…A positive effect of the fungivorous insect Psyllobora bisoctonotata (Mulsant, 1850) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) feeding on powdery mildews was also documented in Sudan (Satti, 2013). In The presence of D. luteipes feeding preys and pollen have been documented throughout the year in all Brazilian maize-growing areas (Reis et al, 1988;Marucci et al, 2019), which reinforces its omnivorous behavior. Considering the high uredospore consumption rate and the absence of germination of uredospores recovered from the feces.…”