Impact of temperature-mediated functional responses of Neoseiulus womersleyi and N. longispinosus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae)

We examined the effect of temperature on the functional responses of Neoseiulus womersleyi and N. longispinosus on eggs of the spider mite Tetranychus urticae. Logistic regression indicated that both N. womersleyi and N. longispinosus exhibited type II functional responses on prey eggs, regardless of temperature. The attack rate coefficient of N. womersleyi increased with temperature from 15 to 30°C and declined at 35°C, whereas that of N. longispinosus peaked at 20°C and then decreased with increasing temperature. The attack rate was higher in N. womersleyi than in N. longispinosus at 30 and 35°C. The handling time of both species declined exponentially with temperature increase from 15 to 35°C. At all temperatures, the handling time of N. longispinosus was shorter than that of N. womersleyi. The number of eggs laid by N. womersleyi and N. longispinosus was significantly influenced by temperature and prey density. The efficiency of converting ingested food into egg biomass (ECI) was higher at lower prey densities and reduced at higher prey densities at each temperature; this is consistent with a type II functional response in which females invested in their own maintenance after reaching a maximum rate of oviposition. The temperature-mediated ECI model indicated that the coefficient differed between the two species at 30 and 35°C. Finally, the implications of the interactions of temperature, prey and predator should be considered for development of suitable biocontrol ...

Source: Biological Control - July 19, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research