Prey preference and host suitability of the predatory and parasitoid carabid beetle, Lebia grandis, for several species of Leptinotarsa beetles

Abstract

Lebia grandis (Coleoptera: Carabidae), recorded as a parasitoid only on Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is capable of parasitizing the false potato beetle, L. juncta, and also L. haldemani. Historical records show that L. decemlineata, while the only recorded host, was not present in much of the original range of L. grandis, and may not have been its host prior to its expansion into eastern North America, where L. juncta is endemic. Our laboratory comparisons suggest that L. juncta, the presumptive original host, best supports the development of the parasitoid larval L. grandis, based on 43.6% successful emergence of the adult carabid parasitoid, compared to 11.5% from the two other Leptinotarsa species. L. grandis adults accept eggs and larvae of all 3 Leptinotarsa species as adult food. Naive, newly-emerged adults show no preference when presented the 3 species of third-instar larvae, which they consume at a mean rate of 3.3 per day, a rate which does not differ significantly by sex, larval host, or weight at emergence. When presented with equal amounts by weight of the 3 species of Leptinotarsa eggs, such adults consume the equivalent of 23.0 L. decemlineata eggs per day, with consumption of L. juncta eggs 67% higher by weight than L. decemlineata consumption. Insight into the biotic and abiotic limitations on L. grandis should aid in determining its potential for suppression of Colorado potato beetle by biological control in diverse agroecosystems.

Unnecessary roughness? Testing the hypothesis that predators destined for molecular gut‐content analysis must be hand‐collected to avoid cross‐contamination

“…2007). The false potato beetle, Leptinotarsa juncta (Germar), was employed as an additional potentially contaminating prey species, because its plant host is often found in or around potato fields (Hemenway & Whitcomb 1967) and potato‐field predators consume it (McCauley 1992; Weber et al. 2006).…”

The life cycle of Neotropical ground beetle, Abaris basistriata (Coleoptera: Carabidae) reared on different substrates

“…The substrates for rearing assessed were as follows: 1) soil (Saska, 2008;Saska and Honek, 2008); 2) vermiculite (Lundgren et al, 2005;Weber et al, 2006); and 3) paper (Jorgensen and Toft, 1997).…”

Production of Coleopteran Predators

“…Most coleopteran predators likely fall along a continuum between oligophagous and polyphagous. Some oligophagous predators include a carabid Lebia grandis Hentz (Weber et al, 2006;Weber and Riddick, 2011), coccinellids Sasajiscymnus tsugae Sasaji and McClure (Flowers et al, 2007;Jetton et al, 2011), Stethorus punctillum Weise (Riddick et al, 2011a, b), R. cardinalis (Matsuka et al, 1982;Grafton-Cardwell et al, 2005) and Clitostethus arcuatus Rossi (Mota et al, 2008;Yazdani and Zarabi, 2011). Most coleopteran predators used previously in biological control and reared in the laboratory are moderately polyphagous (Table 2.1).…”

“…l There is evidence that generalist (polyphagous) coleopteran predators can undergo adaptation to specific prey after several generations of exposure, at least in the laboratory (Rana et al, 2002). Adaptation to new prey also occurs in specialist (oligophagous) coccinellids (Ragab, 1995;Causton et al, 2004) and carabids (Weber et al, 2006;Weber and Riddick, 2011). More research is necessary to predict which species are most likely to adapt to an arthropod-free artificial diet.…”