Prey consumption preferences of Serangium parcesetosum Sicard (Col., Coccinelidae) for different prey stages, species and parasitized prey

Abstract

Serangium parcesetosum Sicard (Col., Coccinellidae) is considered one of the important predators of whiteflies. However, knowledge about its preferences for different prey stages, species and parasitized prey is still lacking in the literature. The present work investigated the preferences of S. parcesetosum for different stages of B. tabaci, different prey species and B. tabaci parasitized by Encarsia formosa Gahan (Hym., Aphelinidae) by prey consumption at different temperatures in the laboratory. Results showed that L 2 and L 4 predatory instars of S. parcesetosum preferred puparia to nymphs and eggs of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Hom., Aleyrodidae). The mean daily prey consumption was 5.1-9.0, 4.5-6.2 and 3.6-4.3 by L 2 and 6.4-9.7, 5.5-8.5 and 2.5-7.5 by L 4 for puparia, nymphs and eggs, respectively. Adult females, however, indicated a significantly greater preference for both puparia and nymphs, consuming a daily mean of 6.4-7.5 puparia and 5.1-6.7 nymphs, but only 3.0-4.7 eggs. At 18 and 30°C, all S. parcesetosum stages tested significantly preferred B. tabaci and Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hom., Aleyrodidae) over the other three prey species offered. At both temperatures, all predatory stages preferred B. tabaci to T. vaporariorum, the L 2 instar at 18°C, showing significantly more preference for B. tabaci than T. vaporariorum. In contrast, very few individuals were consumed from Aphis gossypii Glover (Hom., Aphididae), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thys., Thripidae) and Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari, Tetranychidae). At 18°C, a daily mean of 7.5-8.0, 6.6-9.0 and 6.7-8.1 B. tabaci as well as 5.3-6.4, 5.4-7.8 and 5.6-6.3 T. vaporariorum was consumed by L 2, L 4 and adult females, respectively, while at 30°C, L 2 , L 4 and adult females consumed a mean of 9.3, 8.8-9.7 and 8.3-9.7 B. tabaci/day as well as 8.3-9.0, 7.8-9.1 and 5.5-8.4 T. vaporariorum/day, respectively. S. parcesetosum L 2 and L 4 instars as well as adult females and males at both studied temperatures showed a significant tendency to avoid B. tabaci puparia after 5 days of parasitism by E. formosa and preferred to feed on unparasitized whiteflies. At 18°C, the mean daily consumption was 8.7 and 0.2 (L 2 ), 11.1 and 0.6 (L 4 ), 12.1 and 1.0 ($$) as well as 10.5 and 0.2 (##), while at 30°C the means were 15.9 and 0.5 (L 2 ), 19.8 and 1.0 (L 4 ), 18.9 and 1.2 ($$) as well as 17.4 and 0.6 (##) from unparasitized and parasitized B. tabaci puparia, respectively.

Suitability of various prey types for the development of Propylea japonica (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

“…These include Serangium parcesetosum that feeds on eggs and nymphs of B. tabaci (Legaspi et al, 1996). B. tabaci pupae were more suitable prey for the development of S. parcesetosum larvae than nymphs and eggs, while pupae and nymphs were more suitable for the coccinellid females (Al-Zyoud & Sengonca, 2004). On the other hand, B. tabaci eggs were more suitable for Serangium japonicum than nymphs (Jing et al, 2004).…”

The evolution of food preferences in Coccinellidae

“…Two important sticholotidine predators of Bemisia whiteflies are Serangium parcesetosum Sicard (Al-Zyoud and Sengonca, 2004) and Delphastus catalinae (Horn) (Simmons et al, 2008). Within Scymninae, the genera Zilus Mulsant (Scymnillini) and Nephaspis Casey (Scymnini) also feed primarily on whiteflies (Gordon, 1985(Gordon, , 1994.…”

Does the aggressiveness of the prey modify the attack behavior of the predator Supputius cincticeps (Stål) (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae)?

“…Population density, the size and defensive tactics of prey and predator species, and attack techniques directly affect predation success (Azevedo & Ramalho 1999;Jeschke & Tollrian 2000;Al-Zyould & Sengonca 2004;Hajer & Hrubá 2007). The success of predation affects many aspects of the life history of predatory Hemiptera, including the reduction of feeding time and predation risk at early instars, as well as survival and fecundity (Grundy & Maelzer 2000;Matlock 2005;Zanuncio et al 2005).…”

“…Therefore, predation success is affected by the extent of prey defense and predator attack strategies and tactics (Edmunds 1974;Gentry & Dyer 2002;Al-Zyould & Sengonca 2004;Wignall & Taylor 2009). The aim of this study was to describe the predatory attack behavior of adult S. cincticeps and the defensive behavior of larvae of three Lepidoptera species.…”