Environmental factors affecting the behavior of Coenosia attenuata, a predator of Trialeurodes vaporariorum in tomato greenhouses

Abstract

Adults of the predatory fly Coenosia attenuata Stein (Diptera: Muscidae) catch their prey while in flight. I investigated this activity over two seasons in a tomato greenhouse naturally infested with Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). The flight of C. attenuata individuals was affected by environmental factors and was increased in response to increases in temperature, the number of prey flights, and conspecific density. Predator and prey flights were distributed throughout the day, but there was a regular daily trend, each with two partially overlapping activity peaks. The possibility of predation was limited by differences in daily flight-activity times. Predatory flights comprised a small percentage (ca. 6%) of the total flights, with a predation success rate of 61%. Overall, the predatory activity of C. attenuata depended on the selection of hunting sites with good visibility to ensure a clear view before take-off and allow the capture of prey in flight. Similar numbers of overall flights were made by both sexes, but C. attenuata females performed more predation flights and territorial defense activities than males. The ecological role of C. attenuata and its limited adaptability to greenhouses is discussed in light of its possible use in biological control of whiteflies.

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

“…Temperature variation and deviation from the optimal temperature affect predation rates (Logan & Wolesensky, 2007;Bonsignore, 2016). To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the fi rst to provide insights into the effect of temperature on the functional response of N. tenuis.…”

Gravity and active acceleration limit the ability of killer flies ( Coenosia attenuata ) to steer towards prey when attacking from above

“…3 × 10 2 ). This figure is just above that calculated for fruit flies (D. virilis, 200 [30], D. melanogaster, 128 [31]) and considerably lower than the dragonfly (700-2400 [32]), highlighting the high viscous forces killer flies experience despite high success rates in the wild [33].…”

Effect of Prey Species and Prey Densities on the Performance of Adult Coenosia attenuata

“…The flight of C. attenuata individuals was affected by environmental factors and was increased in response to increases in the number of prey flights [37]. Bonsignore (2016) found that predatory flights of adult C. attenuata comprised a small percentage (ca. 6%) of the total flights, with a predation success rate of 61% [37].…”

“…Adults of C. attenuata use mean flight speeds of 0.69 ms −1 , mean wingbeat frequency of 306, 19 Hz and acceleration of mean peak 9.3 ms −2 to intercept prey [36]. The flight of C. attenuata individuals is affected by environmental factors, adjusting in response to changes in temperature, the number of prey flights and conspecific density [37]. Therefore, wing damage will cause negative effects on the life of C. attenuata adults.…”