Distribution and oviposition site selection by predatory mites in the presence of intraguild predators

Abstract

When intraguild prey and intraguild predators feed and reproduce in the same habitat and relatively immobile juveniles are the vulnerable stage, predation risk depends on oviposition site selection by the adult females. We studied how the availability of oviposition sites affected the distribution of two predatory mite species, Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) and Iphiseius degenerans (Berlese), over two patches that both contained food. The two plant-inhabiting species feed on pollen and thrips, prey on each other's juveniles, and prefer to oviposit on hairy parts of the leaf. When an artificial oviposition site was provided on one of two connected patches, both predator species strongly preferred this patch. Whereas the distributions of adults and eggs of N. cucumeris over the two patches were not affected by the presence of heterospecifics, the proportions of adults and eggs of I. degenerans on the patch with an oviposition site were reduced by the presence of N. cucumeris. A similar change in distribution was induced by cues of N. cucumeris on the oviposition site, without these mites being present. Hence, intraguild prey can weaken the strength of intraguild predation through patch selection, which in turn may promote coexistence of the two predator species.

Interspecific interaction network of mites associated with mango trees

“…In addition, the behavior of predator mites depends on the interactions between them. For example, intraguild predation can shape the distribution of mites on host plants (Choh et al 2015).…”

Bugs scaring bugs: enemy‐risk effects in biological control systems

“…Natural enemies express a broad array of responses to their own predators. A common response is to move away from areas where predator risk is perceived; this may be measured experimentally as shorter patch residency times (Nakashima and Senoo, 2003; Meisner et al ., 2011; Frago and Godfray, 2014), reduced oviposition or prey consumption (Agarwala et al ., 2003; Magalhães et al ., 2004; Meisner et al ., 2011; Choh et al ., 2015) or outright avoidance of patches where predators or predator‐associated cues are detected (Magalhães et al ., 2004; Choh et al ., 2015; Cotes et al ., 2015; Seiter and Schausberger, 2015). Occasionally, parasitoids have been found to increase, rather than decrease, their oviposition activity in host patches with elevated predation risk, likely due to high patch quality even considering predator presence (e.g.…”

Bugs scaring bugs: enemy-risk effects in biological control systems

“…Natural enemies express a broad array of responses to their own predators. A common response is to move away from areas where predator risk is perceived; this may be measured experimentally as shorter patch residency times (Nakashima & Senoo 2003;Meisner et al 2011;Frago & Godfray 2014), reduced oviposition or prey consumption (Agarwala et al 2003;Magalhães et al 2004;Meisner et al 2011;Choh et al 2015), or outright avoidance of patches where predators or predator-associated cues are detected (Magalhães et al 2004;Choh et al 2015;Cotes et al 2015;Seiter & Schausberger 2015). Occasionally, parasitoids have been found to increase, rather than decrease, their oviposition activity in host patches with elevated predation risk, likely due to high patch quality even considering predator presence (e.g., Velasco-Hernández et al 2013).…”