Nutritional variations at Nesidiocoris tenuis feeding sites and reciprocal interactions between the mirid and tomato plants

Abstract

Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) uses a flush‐and‐lacerate feeding strategy producing necrotic rings (NR) at feeding sites in tomato plants. The aim was to investigate the variation in the concentrations of amino acids (aa) and sugars at feeding sites, and its effect on this mirid's life‐history traits and behaviour. The concentration of nutrients was measured in different parts of stems damaged by N. tenuis and mechanically using liquid chromatography. aa concentrations increased below NR; around and above NR, the concentrations of essential and non‐essential aa declined. The concentration of glucose was lower around NR and below. The change in the distribution of aa was similar in NR and mechanically damaged stems, whereas there were no differences in sugar contents. Development time and nymphal mortality were measured on fresh leaflets, leaflets with NR and leaflets plus Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Without prey, development took longer on NR than on fresh leaflets. Development was quicker and mortality lower on leaflets plus moth eggs. Finally, behavioural events were recorded in fifth‐instar nymphs of N. tenuis in: (i) double‐choice experiments (DCE) using leaflets with and without NR; (ii) DCE using leaflets exposed and non‐previously exposed to nymphs and (iii) fresh tomato leaflets plus Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) nymphs. In (i), feeding events lasted longer at NR sites; in (ii), the behaviour of the nymphs on previously exposed leaflets was not significantly different from fresh leaflets; and in (iii), most of the time was dedicated to prey feeding. The overall results indicate that N. tenuis do not take advantage of the inhibited translocation of nutrients in the phloem. The poorer performance of nymphs on leaflets from plants previously exposed to N. tenuis might be due to a general decrease in the concentration of nutrients or to the activation of plant defences.

How Safe Is It to Rely on Macrolophus pygmaeus (Hemiptera: Miridae) as a Biocontrol Agent in Tomato Crops?

“…Besides, their perfomance varies greatly with the mirid species, host plant, the availability of alternative host plant, and even the plant part (McGregor et al, 2000;Perdikis and Lykouressis, 2000;Lucas and Alomar, 2001;Wheeler, 2001;Sanchez et al, 2004;Biondi et al, 2016). In the most favorable cases, plant feeding allows the insect to complete its development and reproduce but, generally, the nymphal stage lasts much longer and egg-laying is very limited in comparison to when feeding on prey (Naranjo and Gibson, 1996;Perdikis and Lykouressis, 2000;Sanchez et al, 2004Sanchez et al, , 2016Urbaneja et al, 2005;Perdikis et al, 2007;Lykouressis et al, 2008;Ingegno et al, 2011;Mollá et al, 2014). In consequence, omnivorous mirids consume primarily prey when available and phytophagy, as well as plant injury, increases exponentially when animal food is scarce (Sanchez, 2008(Sanchez, , 2009Sanchez and Lacasa, 2008;Calvo et al, 2009;Arnó et al, 2010;Sanchez et al, 2016).…”

“…In the most favorable cases, plant feeding allows the insect to complete its development and reproduce but, generally, the nymphal stage lasts much longer and egg-laying is very limited in comparison to when feeding on prey (Naranjo and Gibson, 1996;Perdikis and Lykouressis, 2000;Sanchez et al, 2004Sanchez et al, , 2016Urbaneja et al, 2005;Perdikis et al, 2007;Lykouressis et al, 2008;Ingegno et al, 2011;Mollá et al, 2014). In consequence, omnivorous mirids consume primarily prey when available and phytophagy, as well as plant injury, increases exponentially when animal food is scarce (Sanchez, 2008(Sanchez, , 2009Sanchez and Lacasa, 2008;Calvo et al, 2009;Arnó et al, 2010;Sanchez et al, 2016). Injuries produced by omnivorous mirids vary with the organ affected, and with the plant and mirid species.…”

Enhancing pest management in sweet pepper by the exploitation of zoophytophagy

“…In tomatoes, repetitive insertion of the stylet on vascular tissue induces necrotic rings on stems, leaves or flower petioles that may reduce plant vigour or cause flower abortion (El-Dessouki et al, 1976). Recently, Sánchez et al (2016), observed feeding activity of N. tenuis to produce a significant variation in the concentration and distribution of assimilates (i.e. amino acids and sugars) in tomato stems.…”

“…amino acids and sugars) in tomato stems. This chemical change in tomato was observed to inhibit the transfer of nutrients in the phloem and negatively affect the fitness of nymphs that develop on those parts of the plant (Sánchez et al, 2016). The intensity of injuries on tomato crops is proportional to the availability of the prey (Arnó et al, 2010a;Calvo et al, 2009b).…”

“…Within the mirids, omnivory is common (Wheeler, 2001) and they are able to exploit both plant and prey resources during the same developmental stage Sánchez et al, 2016). This flexibility in their behaviour increases survival rates by taking advantage of plant resources when prey is either less abundant or completely absent Urbaneja et al, 2005;Biondi et al, 2016).…”