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Entomopathogenic fungal conidia marginally affect the behavior of the predators Orius majusculus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) and Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) foraging for healthy Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae).

Authors :
Jacobsen SK
Klingen I
Eilenberg J
Markussen B
Sigsgaard L
Source :
Experimental & applied acarology [Exp Appl Acarol] 2019 Dec; Vol. 79 (3-4), pp. 299-307. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Nov 20.
Publication Year :
2019

Abstract

We determined how conidia of arthropod-pathogenic fungi on leaves affected the behavior of two predators-Orius majusculus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) and Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)-when offered a choice between preying on two-spotted spider mites, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae), in the presence or absence of infective conidia of Metarhizium brunneum (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) and Neozygites floridana (Entomophthoromycota: Neozygitaceae). The results indicate no significant relation between the presence of conidia and predator behavior. The only indication of interference is between the generalists O. majusculus and M. brunneum, with a trend towards more time spent feeding and more prey encounters turning into feeding events on leaf discs without conidia than on leaf discs with conidia. Our results show that the presence of fungal conidia does not alter the preying behavior of the predators, and using predators and fungi together is not limited by any interference between organisms in the short term.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1572-9702
Volume :
79
Issue :
3-4
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Experimental & applied acarology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
31748909
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-019-00441-w