The invasive spider mite Tetranychus evansi (Acari: Tetranychidae) alters community composition and host-plant use of native relatives

Ferragut, Francisco; Garzón-Luque, Eva; Pekas, Apostolos

doi:10.1007/s10493-012-9645-7

Cited by 48 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…It could be that these species rarely encounter each other in the field. However, field data show that this is not the case (Ferragut et al 2013). Still, given that invasion of Europe by T. evansi is recent (Boubou et al 2012), it may be that contact has not occurred for sufficient time for adaptation to the presence of the competitor to occur.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Moreover, a recent T. evansi expansion has led to new distribution overlaps, mainly in Europe (Boubou et al 2012). In the field, they are frequently found on the same plant (Ferragut et al 2013). First-male sperm precedence has been found in T. urticae, although dependent on the mating interval (Boudreaux 1963;Helle 1967): a second mating occurring within 24 h after the first can still produce some offspring.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Incomplete species recognition entails few costs in spider mites, despite first-male precedence

Clemente

Rodrigues

Ponce

et al. 2016

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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The consequences of heterospecific matings may hinge on interspecies interactions, but also on characteristics of the intraspecies mating system, namely sperm precedence. Indeed, first-male precedence may entail costs of heterospecific matings that are usually overlooked in other systems, such as fertilization of oocytes that become unavailable to subsequent conspecific males or a decrease in female receptivity. Here, we used a system composed of two co-occurring haplodiploid spider-mite species with first-male precedence, Tetranychus urticae and Tetranychus evansi, to investigate (a) the potential costs of heterospecific matings and (b) whether mites avoid heterospecific mates. We found that heterospecific matings did not result in fertilized offspring (i.e. females). Moreover, fecundity (i.e. male offspring) of heterospecifically mated females did not differ from that of virgins, indicating that oocyte viability was not affected by heterospecific males. Furthermore, heterospecific matings did not trigger behavioural changes that typically derive from conspecific matings, namely reduced female receptivity for subsequent matings. In avoidance tests, we found that T. evansi females and T. urticae males mated as often with conspecifics as with heterospecifics, whereas T. evansi males and T. urticae females mated assortatively more often. Also, latency to copulation in virgin and mated females did not differ between conspecific and heterospecific matings, but matings between T. urticae individuals lasted longer than heterospecific matings. Therefore, heterospecific matings result in few costs despite first-male precedence and, concomitantly, species discrimination is low. Still, this study highlights the need to account for intraspecific mating systems in tests of the reproductive consequences of mating with heterospecifics. Significance statementIn species where the first male fertilizes all the offspring (firstmale precedence), mating with individuals from other species often yields few benefits and entails potential costs in terms of future mating events. Yet, several species exhibit incomplete recognition of conspecifics. We here show that this is the case among two spider-mite species that co-occur under natural conditions. However, we also demonstrate that the cost of mating with the 'wrong' species is low, even though they exhibit first-male precedence.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Incomplete species recognition entails few costs in spider mites, despite first-male precedence

Clemente

Rodrigues

Ponce

et al. 2016

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Nevertheless, T. evansi was found to outcompete T. urticae (Sarmento et al, 2011b). Moreover, field observations in Spain showed that T. evansi invasion replaced native Tetranychus species including T. urticae (Ferragut et al, 2013). Hence, given that T. evansi suppresses tomato plant defence, the question arises how T. evansi prevents T. urticae to profit from this.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing for reproductive interference in the population dynamics of two congeneric species of herbivorous mites

2014

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When phylogenetically close, two competing species may reproductively interfere, and thereby affect their population dynamics. We tested for reproductive interference (RI) between two congeneric haplo-diploid spider mites, Tetranychus evansi and Tetranychus urticae, by investigating their interspecific mating and their population dynamics when they competed on the same plants. They are both pests of tomato, but differ in the host plant defences that they suppress or induce. To reduce the effect of plant-mediated interaction, we used a mutant tomato plant lacking jasmonate-mediated anti-herbivore defences in the competition experiment. In addition, to manipulate the effect of RI, we introduced founder females already mated with conspecific males in mild RI treatments or founder, virgin females in strong RI treatments (in either case together with heterospecific and conspecific males). As females show first-male sperm precedence, RI should occur especially in the founder generation under strong RI treatments. We found that T. urticae outcompeted T. evansi in mild, but not in strong RI treatments. Thus, T. evansi interfered reproductively with T. urticae. This result was supported by crossing experiments showing frequent interspecific copulations, strong postmating reproductive isolation and a preference of T. evansi males to mate with T. urticae (instead of conspecific) females, whereas T. urticae males preferred conspecific females. We conclude that interspecific mating comes at a cost due to asymmetric mate preferences of males. Because RI by T. evansi can improve its competitiveness to T. urticae, we propose that RI partly explains why T. evansi became invasive in Europe where T. urticae is endemic.

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“…This species is characterized by a high reproductive capacity and a gregarious behavior compared to T. urticae (Azand em e- Hounmalon et al, 2014). Besides its invasive nature, recent reports have indicated that T. evansi has replaced native spider mite species, hence presenting new pest management challenges (Ferragut et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farmers' control practices against the invasive red spider mite, Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard in Benin

et al. 2015

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The invasive spider mite Tetranychus evansi (Acari: Tetranychidae) alters community composition and host-plant use of native relatives

Cited by 48 publications

References 47 publications

Incomplete species recognition entails few costs in spider mites, despite first-male precedence

Incomplete species recognition entails few costs in spider mites, despite first-male precedence

Testing for reproductive interference in the population dynamics of two congeneric species of herbivorous mites

Farmers' control practices against the invasive red spider mite, Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard in Benin

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