Assessment of Non-Consumptive Predation Risk of Coccinella septempunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on the Population Growth of Sitobion miscanthi (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Abstract

How the non-consumptive effects (NCEs) of predators influence the development, survival, fecundity, and population growth of prey has not been well documented, which is the primary consideration for the compatibility of prey with its natural enemies in agricultural ecosystems. We herein employed the age-stage, two-sex life table to examine the NCEs of the predator Coccinella septempunctata on the life-history traits and population growth of prey Sitobion miscanthi via caged predator (prey co-existing with caged predator) and caged prey (predator co-existing with caged prey) treatments with daily different exposure times (i.e., 0 h (control), 12 h, and 24 h). The results indicated that the predation risk of a caged predator could reduce the first nymphal duration and net reproductive rate (R0) of S. miscanthi at 12 h, and the first nymphal duration, preadult duration, and mean generation time (T) at 24 h. However, the predation risk of the caged prey resulted in the prolongation of the pre-adult development time and total pre-reproductive period (TPRP) as well as lowered the intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (𝜆), R0, life expectancy, and reproductive value of S. miscanthi after both 12 h and 24 h. Furthermore, the predation risk of both the caged predator and caged prey could increase the percent of winged morph at 24 h. These findings indicate that S. miscanthi could respond to the predation risk of the caged predator by either accelerating the developmental rate or reducing the net reproductive rate, while S. miscanthi might reduce their fitness in response to the predation risk of caged prey. Furthermore, S. miscanthi might also alter to winged morphs for dispersal under both of the above treatments. The findings obtained have practical ramifications for managing this economically important pest in wheat production with reduced insecticide applications.

The influence of photoperiod on development and population growth performance of the Phytoseiulus persimilis fed on Tetranychus urticae

“…Historically, the traditional life table did not consider stage differentiation, however Chi (1988) expanded the theory of age-stage, two-sex life table to consider both male and female individuals and changeable development rates between them. This method was used in many studies based on predators and parasitoids (Farhadi et Wang et al 2022). In this study, the age-stage, two-sex life table approach was used to assess the effect of photoperiod on population parameters of P. persimilis fed on T. urticae.…”

Biological performance and predation rate ofScolothrips longicornisPriesner fed onTetranychus urticaeKoch.

“…Chi and Yang (2003) examined the age‐stage, two‐sex life table for the ladybird predator, Propylaea japonica (Col.: Coccinellidae), and indicated that it could accurately describe the variability of predation rate with age and stage. This method was used in many studies based on predators and parasitoids (Ding et al, 2020; Farhadi et al, 2011; Ou et al, 2021; Ramos Aguila et al, 2021; Wang et al, 2022). Chi and Yang (2003) noted that in order to accurately reflect the variability of predation rate with stage and age, the daily consumption rates across the lifelong of a predator population should be assessed by the age‐stage structure of the life table.…”

Volatiles from cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) infested plants attract the natural enemy Hippodamia variegata

“…There are numerous natural enemies of insect pests in nature, such as parasitic wasps ( Daniel et al., 2023 ), ladybirds, and lacewings ( Wang et al., 2022 ; González-Ruiz et al., 2023 ). Additionally, arthropods like spiders and mites are capable of preying on a diverse range of pests ( Vervaet et al., 2022 ; Fidelis et al., 2023 ).…”