Feeding preference of Euborellia annulipes to Plutella xylostella: effects of temperature and prey development stage

Abstract

The ring-legged earwig Euborellia annulipes has been studied as a natural enemy of pest-insects and a potential predator of diamondback moth. Temperature is an important factor that mediates the pest population density and may affect the predator-prey relationship dynamics. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the temperature and development stage of Plutella xylostella individuals on the feeding preference of E. annulipes females. Three temperatures (18 ºC, 25 ºC and 32 ºC), two development stages (larvae and pupae) and two feeding conditions related to the prey capture (with or without choice) were assessed. No matter the temperature, ring-legged earwig females showed a preference for eating larvae, instead of pupae. The temperature and choice conditions influenced the amount of consumed preys, but only for larvae (not for pupae). The lowest larvae consumption was observed at 18 ºC, in both prey capture conditions.

Predation potential of the earwig Euborellia annulipes on fruit fly larvae and trophic interactions with the parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata

“…Similarly to other species of earwigs (Oliveira, Alves, et al, 2019; Tangkawanit et al, 2021), our study showed that E. annulipes preyed more on larvae than on pupae. Other studies have reported that E. annulipes prefers to consume larvae over pupae of a lepidopteran prey (Nunes et al, 2018; Nunes, Dantas, et al, 2019; Nunes, Paulo, et al, 2020). The higher predation capacity of earwigs for insect larvae is likely related to the hardness of the tegument, which is harder in the pupal than in the larval stage, acting as protection against natural enemies (Kalinoski & DeLong, 2015).…”

“…annulipes prefers to consume larvae over pupae of a lepidopteran prey (Nunes et al, 2018;Nunes, Dantas, et al, 2019;Nunes, Paulo, et al, 2020). The higher predation capacity of earwigs for insect larvae is likely related to the hardness of the tegument, which is harder in the pupal than in the larval stage, acting as protection against natural enemies (Kalinoski & DeLong, 2015).…”

Silicon and boron on cauliflower induce attractiveness and mortality in Plutella xylostella

“…The rearing and bioassays conditions were maintained at 25 ± 1 °C, 70 ± 10% relative humidity, and 12 h dark:12 h light photoperiod. The insect rearing was performed following the methodology described by Nunes et al ., 12 in which collard green leaves ( Brassica oleracea var. acephala ) were the substrates used for both P. sylostella feeding and oviposition.…”

A new greenhouse invader: the first report of the alien ring-legged earwig, Euborellia annulipes (Dermaptera, Anisolabididae) in Serbia, with the first checklist of earwigs of the country

“…However, studies have shown that this species is also effective in controlling the number of some plant pests, e.g. banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar, 1824), fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith, 1797), or diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Koppenhofer 1995;Silva et al 2009;Nunes et al 2020). Kočárek et al (2015) found that in a greenhouse conditions, E. annulipes is omnivorous but with a predominantly herbivorous diet, which makes it a potential pest, especially of seedlings and plants with soft tissues.…”