Temperature and prey assessment on the performance of the mealybug predator Tenuisvalvae notata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Abstract

Tenuisvalvae notata preys upon several mealybug species (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), a group of worldwide pests including Planococcus citri and Ferrisia dasyrilii. Although the consequences of variation in temperature for the development and reproduction of insects are generally appreciated, the consequences of potential interactions between temperature and prey for predatory insects are not. Thermal requirements and predation rates were determined for T. notata at different constant temperatures with both prey species. T. notata larvae developed to adults in experimental conditions > 18 to <38 °C. The upper thermal limit for egg hatch was 34 °C and for pupation was 33 °C. Adults reared at ≥32 °C did not lay eggs and survived less than 1 week. Prey species did not affect lower temperature thresholds or thermal constants for development from egg to adult. Furthermore, prey did not affect a number of reproductive traits, but the interaction between temperature and prey affected changes in developmental times and oviposition rate with age. Predation rate of T. notata increased as a function of temperature, and T. notata adults generally consumed more nymphs of P. citri than F. dasyrilii. These findings indicate that T. notata is well adapted to the tropical and sub‐tropical temperatures and may prove useful for the biological control of some native and non‐native mealybugs.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Artificial heat waves induce species-specific plastic responses on reproduction of two spider mite predators

“…Thus, increased activity induced by higher temperatures was likely the cause of increased spider mite egg predation by the two predatory mite species. Such thermal effects on predator activity leading to higher predation rates are also documented for dragonflies, lady beetles and ground beetles (Vucic-Pestic et al 2011;Ferreira et al 2020;Wang et al 2020).…”

Cannibalism and intraguild predation between endemic and introduced coccidophagous lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

“…Prior to this work, our research group has investigated the thermal requirements and predation potential of T. notata (Ferreira et al . 2020) and used the CLIMEX model to estimate the global geographic distribution of T. notata and C. montrouzieri (Ferreira et al . 2021) based on climatic conditions and thermal requirements of both predators.…”

“…Oliveira et al (2021) estimated that in warmer areas, the introduced species have a higher number of descendants per year than the native species. Prior to this work, our research group has investigated the thermal requirements and predation potential of T. notata (Ferreira et al 2020) and used the CLIMEX model to estimate the global geographic distribution of T. notata and C. montrouzieri (Ferreira et al 2021) based on climatic conditions and thermal requirements of both predators. We found that both studied species could occur in tropical and subtropical areas, in the same habitat, and prey upon the same prey.…”

Potential displacement of the native Tenuisvalvae notata by the invasive Cryptolaemus montrouzieri in South America suggested by differences in climate suitability

“…Both species studied here show preference and high predatory capacity upon mealybugs, either as larvae or as adults (Babu and Azam, 1987; Wu et al ., 2014; Barbosa et al ., 2014 a , 2014 b ; Marques et al ., 2015). In fact, C. montrouzieri and T. notata overlap in their food niches resulting in competition and intraguild predation, due to similarity in food diet, habitat, and the thermal requirement to development of both species (Ferreira et al ., 2020; Oliveira, 2020; Sá et al ., 2020).…”

“…Therefore, in various locations of the south hemisphere, where C. montrouzieri was introduced intentionally through classical biological control programs, its chances of survival are higher. In addition, the EI difference estimated for both coccinellids under the current scenario of climate condition shows that C. montrouzieri could have a broader distribution than T. notata in South America, possibly because C. montrouzieri has a wider thermal tolerance than T. notata (Ferreira et al ., 2020). Moreover, the model prediction was based on climate suitability as an indicator of potential global distribution.…”