The functional predatory response of Amblyseius swirskii to Frankliniella occidentalis and Megalurothrips usitatus nymphs
Author of the article:YU Yun-Chao；ZHI Jun-Rui；ZENG Guang；YUE Wen-Bo；YE Mao
Author's Workplace：Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, The Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Guiyang 550025, China；Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, The Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Guiyang 550025, China；Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, The Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Guiyang 550025, China；Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, The Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Guiyang 550025, China；Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, The Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Guiyang 550025, China
Key Words：Amblyseius swirskii; Frankliniella occidentalis; Megalurothrips usitatus; functional response; predation preference; interference response
Abstract：[Objectives] To investigate the potential of Amblyseius swirskii to act as a biological control for nymphs of the thrips Frankliniella occidentalis and Megalurothrips usitatus. [Methods] The prey preferences and functional and interference responses of A. swirskii to nymphs of F. occidentalis and M. usitatus were measured at 25℃ and 75% RH under laboratory conditions. [Results] A. swirskii preferred 1st instar nymphs of both F. occidentalis or M. usitatus to 2nd instar nymphs of these species, and there was no difference in its predatory capacity, or preference, for 1st instar nymphs of either species. However, A. swirskii preferred 2nd instar nymphs of F. occidentalis to those of M. usitatus. The functional response was a good fit to the Holling Ⅱ equation. The predation rate of A. swirskii on 1st instar nymphs decreased with predator density. [Conclusion] The predatory capacity of A. swirskii was affected by the species and developmental stage of its prey and predator density.