The effect of predation risk on spermatophore deposition rate of the eriophyoid mite, Aculops allotrichus

Abstract

Eriophyoids are minute herbivores in which males deposit spermatophores on a substrate while females, independent of the presence of males, pick up sperm (sex dissociation). Their most dangerous enemies are phytoseiid mites. Eriophyoids can successfully avoid the predation by, e.g., forming galls in which they live, by inhabiting narrow spaces on plants, or by climbing up leaf trichomes for the time of quiescence. All these behaviours, however, are fixed and independent of the actual risk of predation. The aim of this study was to examine whether eriophyoids can respond to the cues of predation risk and how this could affect their spermatophore deposition rate. Aculops allotrichus is a vagrant eriophyoid which inhabits leaves of the black locust tree, Robinia pseudoacacia. On leaf arenas with injured conspecifics (pierced with a fine needle which simulated the attack of phytoseiids), single males of Ac. allotrichus deposited a similar number of spermatophores as on control, 'clean' leaves. They did not respond to the cues left by the non-enemy, yeast-fed acarid mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae either. However, they deposited significantly fewer spermatophores on leaf arenas previously exposed to the presence of the eriophyoid-fed phytoseiid mite Amblyseius swirskii. This is a first report indicating that eriophyoids can respond to the cues left by predators and change their reproductive activity accordingly. The ultimate and proximate factors that may influence the behaviour of Ac. allotrichus males are discussed.

The effect of predation risk on post-copulatory sexual selection in the Japanese pygmy squid

“…These results were opposite to our hypothesis that males ejaculate more sperm and females become choosier and remove more sperm when they are exposed to a high predation risk. In the eriophyoid mite, Aculops allotrichus, in which males deposit spermatophores on a substrate while females pick up sperm regardless of the presence of males, the males deposited fewer spermatophores when the predation risk was high (Michalska 2016). Reported results for precopulatory mate choice are similar to our results (e.g.…”

What Could Arrest an Eriophyoid Mite on a Plant? The Case of Aculops allotrichus from the Black Locust Tree

“…However, in further investigations by [21], only four out of ten of the tested eriophyoid species became more active on non-host plants. Recent observations on Aculops allotrichus (Nalepa) [25] and Aceria guerreronis Keifer [20] revealed that eriophyoids can also respond to the cues left on plants by predatory mites and heterospecific competitors. The eriophyoids of A. guerreronis sought refugia under floral bracts of the coconut when they were exposed to the cues of phytoseiids, Neoseiulus baraki (Athias-Henriot), or Amblyseilus largoensis (Muma) [20].…”

“…However, they remained outside the refugium in the presence of the cues of the competitor, the tarsonemid mite Steneotarsonemus concavuscutum Lofego and Gondim Jr. Males of A. allotrichus also responded to predation risk and decreased their spermatophore deposition rate in the presence of cues from the phytoseiid mite Amblyseilus swirskii (Athias-Henriot) [25]. Interestingly, the presence of artificially pierced conspecifics did not elicit either movement of A. guerreronis to the safer sites [20] or changes in the spermatophore deposition rate in A. allotrichus males [25].…”

“…Males of A. allotrichus also responded to predation risk and decreased their spermatophore deposition rate in the presence of cues from the phytoseiid mite Amblyseilus swirskii (Athias-Henriot) [25]. Interestingly, the presence of artificially pierced conspecifics did not elicit either movement of A. guerreronis to the safer sites [20] or changes in the spermatophore deposition rate in A. allotrichus males [25]. In further tests, females of A. allotrichus also did not exhibit anti-predatory behaviours, such as freezing, escape or avoidance of oviposition on leaves with injured conspecifics [22].…”

Responses of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acaride) to odour associated with its predator Neoseiulus cucumeris (Phytoseiidae)

“…However, most research has focused on the impacts of predation risk on the behaviour of only phytophagous mites such as spider mites (Tetranychidae) (e.g. Grostal and Dicke 1998;Bowler et al 2012) and gall mites (Eriophyidae) (Michalska 2016). Little is known about the non-consumptive effects of predatory mites on other kinds of mites such as the stored product mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acaridae).…”