Predatory behavior and life history of Tenuisvalvae notata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) under variable prey availability conditions

Authors

  • Paulo R. R. Barbosa Departamento de Agronomia – Entomologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros, s/n, Dois Irmãos, CEP 52171-900, Recife, PE, Brazil
  • Martin D. Oliveira Departamento de Agronomia – Entomologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros, s/n, Dois Irmãos, CEP 52171-900, Recife, PE, Brazil
  • José A. Giorgi Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará. Rua José Porfírio, 2515, São Sebastião, CEP 68372-040, Altamira, PA, Brazil
  • Christian S. A. Silva-Torres Departamento de Agronomia – Entomologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros, s/n, Dois Irmãos, CEP 52171-900, Recife, PE, Brazil
  • Jorge B. Torres Departamento de Agronomia – Entomologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros, s/n, Dois Irmãos, CEP 52171-900, Recife, PE, Brazil

Keywords:

coccidophagy, Ferrisia virgata, functional response, numerical response

Abstract

Prey availability for predaceous insects can be uncertain in row crop ecosystems, requiring predators to employ flexible reproductive strategies to maintain their populations. In this study, we examined life history parameters and predatory behavior of the ladybeetle, Tenuisvalvae notata (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) under different conditions of prey availability. Females of T. notata exhibited a type III functional response when preying upon neonate striped mealybug [Ferrisia virgata Cockerell (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)] nymphs and a type II response when preying upon third instars and female adults. On average, T. notata females consumed 157.9 neonate nymphs, 3.6 third-instar nymphs and 2.2 adult females of F. virgata per day. When subjected to a one-day period of prey deprivation, T. notata females exhibited significant reductions in reproduction and survivorship. After 150 days of exposure 47, 13 and 20% of females were alive when fed daily or subjected to repeated one- or 2-day periods of prey deprivation, respectively. Prey consumption increased as a function of prey availability. Daily oviposition was observed for females fed daily, but a sharp reduction in egg production was observed under conditions of prey scarcity. These findings show that T. notata exhibits a positive response to prey availability preying upon the striped mealybug F. virgata.

 

La disponibilidad de presas en ecosistemas anuales puede ser incierta para insectos depredadores. Requiriendo estos insectos ajustar sus estrategias reproductivas para mantener con éxito sus poblaciones. Por lo tanto, este estudio determinó las características de la historia de vida y el comportamiento depredador de la mariquita Tenuisvalvae notata (Mulsant) (Coccinellidae) en condiciones variables de disponibilidad de presas. Las hembras de T. notata exhibieron respuesta funcional de tipo III cuando depredaron ninfas neonatas de la cochinilla Ferrisia virgata Cockerell (Pseudococcidae) e respuesta del tipo II cuando depredaron ninfas del tercer instar y hembras adultas. En general, hembras de T. notata consumieron hasta 157.9 ninfas neonatas, 3.6 ninfas del tercer instar y 2.2 hembras adultas de F. virgata por día. Cuando las hembras de T. notata fueron sometidas a escasez de presas por intervalos de un día, presentaron reducción significativa en la reproducción y supervivencia. Después de 150 días de exposición a varias condiciones de disponibilidad de presa, tasas de supervivencia de 47%, 13%, y 20% fueron observadas en hembras alimentadas diariamente o que estuvieron sometidas a intervalos de escasez de presas de 1 ó 2 días, respectivamente. El incremento en el consumo estuvo en función de la disponibilidad de presas. Cuando las hembras fueron alimentadas diariamente, fue observada producción diaria de huevos. Mientras que en condiciones de escasez de presas, hubo una fuerte reducción en la reproducción. Estos resultados muestran que T. notata exhibe una respuesta significativa a la disponibilidad de presa, e indican su potencial como depredadora de F. virgata.


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Issue

Vol. 97, No. 3 (September 2014)

Section

Research Papers

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