Multitrophic Interactions Between Coccinellids and Their Parasitoids in Natural and Managed Plant Systems: Host Plant and Aphid Prey Species Matter

Abstract

Background: To better inform conservation biological control of aphids multitrophic interactions between aphids, coccinellids and their parasitoids in natural and managed plant systems were examined over 4 years. Methods: Coccinellid larvae found naturally feeding on aphids on two non-crop plants growing in agricultural landscapes in Pakistan; Aphis nerii (Boyer de Fonscolombe) feeding on Calotropis procera L. and Nerium oleander L.; and four crop host; Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt) feeding on Eurica sativa Mill. and Brassica campestris L., Uroleucon compositae (Theobold) feeding on Carthamus tinctorius L., and Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko) feeding on Hordeum vulgare L.; were collected throughout the aphid season and reared on their respective aphid-plant combination in the laboratory to identify coccinellid species, their parasitoids and performance (survival and pupal weight).Results: Coccinellid pupal weight on different host plant-aphid combinations varied from 3.4±1.8 to 11.2±0.9 mg (mean ± SE), as did mortality of coccinellid larvae due to diseases and unknown causes (5±2.2 to 31±3.8%). Parasitism of coccinellid larvae by Homalotylus flaminus (Dalman) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) ranged from ca 10±2 to 30±3% in B. campestris and E. sativa, respectively. Parasitism of coccinellid pupae by Oomyzus scaposus (Thomson) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) ranged between 17±2.7 (C. procera) to 41±2.9% (B. compestris). One Dinocampus coccinellae Schrank (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was reared. Conclusions: Coccinellids were host plant and aphid selective. Some coccinellids were never or rarely recorded on a particular aphid-plant combination, suggesting that their prey selection more specific than often assumed. Management decision and conservation biological control cannot be based on superficial categories such as “aphids” and “coccinellids” but needs to be plant and species specific.

Influence of victims' diet on the life‐history traits in cannibalistic Menochilus sexmaculatus

“…Rothschild et al (1970) first reported the presence of cardiac glycosides in the body tissues of Coccinella undecimpunctata L., Aspidiotus nerii Bouchè and pupae of Chrysopa sp., which were feeding on Aphis nerii. Recently, Rajput and Furlong (2020) studied the multitrophic interaction between coccinellids and their parasitoids. The study reported that when coccinellids were reared on aphids fed on Calotropis or N. oleander, the parasitoids that emerged from these coccinellids had reduced fitness.…”

“…Much research has explored multitrophic interactions in ladybird beetles, including host plant-mediated effects of prey quality on various biological attributes Francis, Lognay, et al, 2001;Kos et al, 2012). In recent years, multiple studies have reported a significant effect of prey diet on predator fitness (Rajput & Furlong, 2020). For example, Giles et al (2002) studied the effect of prey, Acrythosiphon pisum Harris, reared on different host plants, Vicia faba L. (cv.…”

“…In nature, predatory insects are involved in various multitrophic interactions with host plants, prey, other predators and parasitoids (Dicke & van Loon, 2000; Fei et al., 2023; Gols, 2014). Changes at any one trophic level are likely to bear significant effects on higher trophic levels (Rajput & Furlong, 2020; Vanhaelen et al., 2002). The life‐history traits of predators, along with their ecological, physiological and behavioural aspects, are mostly governed by these multitrophic interactions (Rajput & Furlong, 2020; Sentis et al., 2019; Ugine et al., 2021).…”

“…Changes at any one trophic level are likely to bear significant effects on higher trophic levels (Rajput & Furlong, 2020; Vanhaelen et al., 2002). The life‐history traits of predators, along with their ecological, physiological and behavioural aspects, are mostly governed by these multitrophic interactions (Rajput & Furlong, 2020; Sentis et al., 2019; Ugine et al., 2021). Each trophic level is characterised by variability in the quality and quantity of food, both of which are known to have a significant impact on a predator's foraging behaviour (Francis, Haubruge, et al., 2001; Mayntz et al., 2005; Omkar & Kumar, 2010; Singh et al., 2016).…”