Modeling Thermal Developmental Trajectories and Thermal Requirements of the Ladybird Stethorus gilvifrons

The development rate of the predatory ladybird, Stethorus gilvifrons (Mulsant), fed on Tetranychus urticae Koch, was determined at 15, 20, 25, 27, 30, 34, and 38 °C. The total development time from egg to adult emergence for females was estimated to be 61.4, 31.6, 14.4, 13.3, 12.5, and 11.7 days, respectively. The development time decreased with increasing temperature from 15 to 34 °C, but all eggs failed to hatch at 38 °C. The lower temperature threshold (T0) for the entire development period and the thermal constant (K) for female S. gilvifrons were estimated to be 11.64 °C and 194.50 degree-days (DD) using the common linear model, and 11.96 °C and 187.87 DD using the Ikemoto and Takai model, respectively. Data were fitted to 20 non-linear development rate models and the thermal thresholds (Tmin and Tmax) and optimal temperature (Topt) were estimated. Among non-linear models, the Briere-2 and Ikemoto and Takai linear model provided adequate descriptions of the temperature-dependent development of S. gilvifrons. The upper-temperature threshold was estimated to be about 44 °C using the Logan-10 non-linear model. The estimated thermal development characteristics can be used to predict the occurrence and the population dynamics, as well as to improve the mass rearing and release, of S. gilvifrons for the biological control of T. urticae.

Predator-prey interactions in selected slow and fast developing females of a ladybird, Propylea dissecta

Development rate polymorphism describes the scenario in which individuals exhibit distinct differences in their rate of development resulting in slow and fast developers even from the same clutch of eggs. Previously we showed that in ladybird, Propylea dissecta fast developers have higher foraging and predation rates than slow developers. But correlation between foraging efficacies with reproductive output of female remains unexplored. We selected slow and fast developmental rate for 15 generations in a P. dissecta and assessed female functional response and numerical response by using varying prey biomasses (A. pisum). We evaluated predatory parameters: prey consumption, attack rate, handling time, and the reproductive measures: number of eggs laid, egg, and body biomass conversion efficiencies. Overall, both group of P. dissecta showed increased prey biomasses curvilinear for consumption rate demonstrating the physiological capacity of foraging for food are mutually exclusive behaviors (i.e., Holling's Type-II functional response). Consumption rate and proportion of prey consumed was higher, and prey handling time was shorter, in experimental fast developers. However, prey attack rate was higher in experimental slow developers. The functional response of experimental fast developers got elevated whereas got depressed for control slow-fast developers. Our results suggest that slow developers may perform better at low prey biomass than fast developers due to their high attack rate whereas high density prey may favour fast developers due to their shorter prey handling time and higher consumption rates. This study is first attempt to evaluate predatory responses of experimentally selected lines of slow and fast developers. J. Exp. Zool. 323A: 745-756, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Resource partitioning in a ladybird, Menochilus sexmaculatus: function of body size and prey density

In the present study, resource partitioning by natural conspecific size variants (small and large) of ladybird, Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius) females, in response to varying prey densities was assessed using functional and numerical responses as measures of prey density. The prey provided was small (second) and large (fourth) instars of Aphis craccivora Koch. Results revealed that under choice condition, small and large females of M. sexmaculatus consumed higher number of small and large instars, respectively. Small females exhibited a modified Type II functional response on small aphid instars and a Type II functional response on fourth aphid instars. Large females exhibited a Type II functional response when provided either second or fourth aphid instars. Numerical response in terms of numbers of eggs laid by both the females increased with increase in the density of either of the aphid instars. However, in small females, oviposition had a positive correlation with the numbers of small and large aphid instars consumed; being strong for the small aphid instars. While in large females, oviposition was positively correlated with the numbers of large aphid instars consumed and not small aphid instars. It therefore seems that intraspecific resource partitioning in M. sexmaculatus occurs prominently in large females than the small females.

Host plant mediates foraging behavior and mutual interference among adult Stethorus gilvifrons (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) preying on Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Physical plant characteristics can influence predator foraging and their behavioral responses to each other. This study examined the searching efficiency and functional response of adult female Stethorus gilvifrons Mulsant foraging for Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) on castor bean, common bean, and cucumber leaves. Experiments conducted on leaf discs in arenas for 12 h revealed a type II functional response for S. gilvifrons on all host plants. Per capita searching efficiency and killing power decreased with increasing predator density on all plants, but most notably on common bean, the plant with the highest prey consumption rates, due to greater mutual interference. Attack rates were highest on common bean and lowest on castor bean, whereas handling times were shortest on common bean and longest on cucumber, such that the daily predation rate was maximal on common bean. Host plant interacted with predator and prey densities to affect searching efficiency and functional response, the differences in mite consumption among host plants increasing with predator and prey densities. The waxy layers of castor bean leaves and high trichome counts of cucumber leaves appeared to reduce predator foraging efficiency. Thus, the efficacy of S. gilvifrons against T. urticae is likely to be greatest on plants such as Phaeseolus vulgaris L. that have relatively smooth leaves.