Aphid-plant interactions affect the suitability of Myzus spp. as prey for the two spot ladybird, Adalia bipunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Abstract

Abstract.A laboratory study was conducted to examine tritrophic effects on the suitability of the peach-potato aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), and tobacco aphid, Myzus persicae nicotianae (Blackman & Eastop), as prey for the two spot ladybird, Adalia bipunctata (L.), when the aphids were reared on either sweet pepper or tobacco. Significant host plant-aphid interactions were evident for every component of development (juvenile survival, developmental time, adult mass at emergence) and reproduction (preoviposition period, fecundity, fertility). By almost all measures, the suitability of each aphid species was improved by rearing on its host plant of origin and diminished by rearing on the alternative host plant. The symmetry of the interactions are suggestive of both positive and negative host plant effects on aphid suitability as prey. Whereas M. p. nicotianae may be better able than M. persicae to detoxify the nicotine that is likely responsible for the reduced suitability of M. persicae when reared on tobacco, it appears to have lower nutritive value for A. bipunctata than M. persicae when reared on pepper. Thus, population parameters (R0, rm, and DT) derived from performance data indicated that M. persicae reared on sweet pepper was the most suitable prey and that the same species reared on tobacco was the least suitable, with other host plant-aphid combinations intermediate.

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“…Plate 1: Eggs of C. sexmaculata on L. purpureus. [6,21] also observed that the fecundity and eggs viability of predator varied on different host plants and temperature which is supported to present finding (Figure 1).…”

Tri-trophic interaction involving host plants, black legume aphid, Aphis craccivora (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and the predator, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

“…Similarly, Giles et al (2002) report an increase in survival rate, decrease in developmental time and larger Coccinella septempunctata, when fed on the aphid Aphis pisum reared on Medicago sativa, than when fed aphids reared on Vicia faba, They report that the tritrophic interactions appear to be modulated by the response of A. pisum to the biochemical constituents in the host plants. The aphid, Myzus persicae fed on sweet pepper is a more suitable food for the lady beetle, Adalia bipunctata due its better nutritive value; whereas the same aphid fed on tabacco is less suitable because it is toxic (Jalali & Michaud, 2012).…”

Factors Influencing the Efficacy of Biological Control Agents Used to Manage Insect Pests in Indoor Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) Cultivation

“…However, secondary metabolites in plants can also affect the third trophic level. Jalali and Michaud (2012) suggest that nicotine, produced by tobacco plants used to rear green peach aphid [M. persicae (Sulzer)] and tobacco aphid (Myzus persicae nicotianae Blackman), decreases the survival and fecundity and increases the development time of the Coccinellid aphid predator Adalia bipunctata L. Multiple instances of Coccinellids rejecting aphids as a result of phytochemicals produced by the host plant have been recorded. For example, A. bipunctata rejected Macrosiphum aconitum vander Goot feeding on Aconitum sp.…”