Life cycle of Harmonia axyridis in central Europe

Abstract

Article (refereed) -postprint Honek, A.; Martinkova, Z.; Dixon, A.F.G.; Skuhrovec, J.; Roy, H.E.; Brabec, M.; Pekar, S. 2018. Life cycle of Harmonia axyridis in central Europe. BioControl, 63 (2). The NERC and CEH trademarks and logos ('the Trademarks') are registered trademarks of NERC in the UK and other countries, and may not be used without the prior written consent of the Trademark owner. Abstract 4 The development and reproduction, and maximum number of generations across seasons were 5 ascertained for populations of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in 6 Central Europe. Number of generations was calculated using the thermal characteristics of 7 development and summation of daily average air temperatures, in 2007-2016. This species 8 can produce 2-3 generations per year, however, there is insufficient time for it to achieve its 9 full reproductive potential. Delayed emigration from hibernacula (late April) shortened the 10 period of seasonal activity by 1-6%. Breeding occurred from May to mid September. 11 Oviposition continued into late summer, which left insufficient time for the late-hatching 12 immatures to complete their development before the onset of winter. A high mobility, 13 opportunistic use of prey patches and weak tendency to enter dormancy provide the potential 14 for population increase by extending the period of development of immatures at the risk of 15 failure if the cold period comes early. 16 17

Aphid feeding by lady beetles: higher consumption at higher temperature

“…At this point, H. axyridis began to establish in the wild, where it is since considered both a biological control agent and an invasive species potentially threatening native lady beetles, particularly A. bipunctata (Camacho-Cervantes et al 2017;Brown and Roy 2018). In Central Europe, the species can achieve between two and three generations per year (Honek et al 2018). These three species are important biological control agents, which may be the reason why they are among the five lady beetle species that were most studied between 1995 and 2004 (Sloggett 2005).…”

Differences in the Phenology ofHarmonia axyridis(Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Native Coccinellids in Central Europe

“…H. axyridis is considered not only a threat to biodiversity but also a pest to viticulture and a nuisance to humans because it forms large overwintering aggregations in buildings and occasionally bites humans, which can lead to allergic reactions (Nakazawa et al 2007, Chakir et al 2016. The general outline of its life cycle is well known (Honek et al 2018).…”

Effects of Aphid Density and Plant Taxa on Predatory Ladybeetle Abundance at Field and Landscape Scales

“…For instance, Reynolds and Cuddington [ 61 ] showed that H. axyridis foraged more thoroughly and had a higher foraging ability on plants with more branches compared with leafier plants. H. axyridis also preferred to aggregate in the more sunny section of tree crowns [ 62 ], and they were of a higher abundance on trees than on herbaceous plants and cereals in central Europe [ 63 , 64 ]. Hence, trees would be a preferred habitat for them.…”

“…Evidence for temporal host plant shifts was also found at the local field scale, with ladybeetle densities decreasing in trees over time in 2013 and 2014 and increasing versus decreasing in weeds over time in 2013 and 2014, respectively, compared with in crops. Hence, trees may represent early season reservoirs forladybeetles before colonization of crops or weed patches [ 62 ]. However, the aphid densities in crops were already high in early May when many ladybeetles were in trees, which also supported high aphid densities; therefore, their shift from trees to crops may happen too late for efficient biocontrol of aphid populations in crop field [ 79 , 80 ].…”