Temperature dependent functional response of Diaeretiella rapae (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) to the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Abstract

Abstract. Diaeretiella rapae MacIntosh (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) is one of the most common and successful parasitoids of the cabbage aphid. The functional response of D. rapae towards cabbage aphids was examined in laboratory studies at three constant temperatures, 17°C, 25°C and 30°C. D. rapae exhibited a type II functional response at all three temperatures. The search rates were uninfluenced by temperature whereas handling times differed significantly between 17°C and 25°C, and between 17°C and 30°C, but not between 25°C and 30°C. This study is a first-step in the evaluation of the effectiveness of D. rapae as a biocontrol agent of Brevicoryne brassicae at different temperatures.

Temperature-dependent functional response of Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae) to different densities of pupae of cotton whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

“…At high densities (35, 50 and 70 prey) the highest attack rates and shortest handling times were recorded at 35°C. The longest handling time was recorded at 15°C, which indicates this predator allocates a larger amount of time to non-searching activities (e.g., resting) at low temperatures, whereas at high temperatures it spends more time searching and feeding (Jalali et al, 2010;Moayeri et al, 2013). Consequently, the ratio a/ T h indicates that N. tenuis acted more effi ciently against B. tabaci at 35°C then at 25°C.…”

Functional responses are maximized at intermediate temperatures

“…Temperature is another powerful modifier of functional responses, but there are conflicting thoughts about how temperature affects the functional response parameters. Although analyses of specific taxonomic groups suggest that functional response parameters respond monotonically to changes in temperature (Thompson , Dell et al , Moayeri et al , Burnside et al , Kalinoski and DeLong , Uiterwaal and DeLong ), a compilation of functional responses by Englund et al () shows unimodal responses of space clearance rate and handling time to temperature, indicating that there are optimal temperatures at which foraging rates are maximized. Some evidence suggests that this may be more apparent at smaller taxonomic scales, as Rall et al () found responses that were both unimodal (within taxonomic groups) and linear (across taxa).…”

Relación del número de individuos de Brevicoryne brassicae con la temperatura y con su parasitoide Diaretiella rapae en brócoli en el Bajío, México

“…D. rapae es un enemigo natural con amplio potencial en el manejo integrado de plagas, se puede usar en conjunto con piretroides para disminuir la incidencia de B. brassica con un efecto aditivo sobre las poblaciones del áfido (Desneux et al, 2005). Otra característica que puede considerarse favorable en cuanto a la presencia de D. rapae, es su utilización en programas de manejo de áfidos en hortalizas, debido a su capacidad de desarrollo en rangos amplios de temperatura, Moayeri et al (2013), determinaron que el parasitismo de esta especie se registra de manera adecuada, en el rango de temperaturas que va de los 17 a los 30 °C, lo que favorece el establecimiento de refugios a lo largo del año para este parasitoide.…”

“…D. rapae is a natural enemy with great potential in the integrated pest management, it can be used in conjunction with pyrethroids in reducing the incidence of B. Brassica with an additive effect on aphid populations (Desneux et al, 2005). Another feature that may be considered favorable in the presence of D. rapae, is its use in management programs aphids on vegetables, due to its capacity for development in broad temperature ranges, Moayeri et al (2013) species is recorded properly in the range of temperatures ranging from 17 to 30 °C, which promotes the establishment of shelters throughout the year for this parasitoid.…”