Laboratory feeding responses of Euthyrhynchus floridanus and Podisus maculiventris to the kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria
Keywords:
Florida predatory stinkbug, generalist predator, Invasive species, PlataspidaeAbstract
Abstract
The feeding responses of the predatory stink bugs, Euthyrhynchus floridanus (L.) and Podisus maculiventris Say (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), to the kudzu bug Megacopta cribraria (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) were studied in the laboratory. Before the experiments, E. floridanus and P. maculiventris males, females and third-fourth instars were kept individually in Petri dish with a bean pod and moistened paper for 24 h. Then, they were exposed to a single male, female or third instar M. cribraria with and without Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) as alternative prey for 24 h. Another laboratory experiment was conducted to estimate the predation rate at different prey densities. A single predator male or female was exposed to different M. cribraria adult densities (1 to 5). Euthyrhynchus floridanus was 20-40% more efficient than P. maculiventris at feeding on M. cribraria adults in the laboratory with or without C. includes as alternative prey. The prey preference of both predators were not affected by the presence of C. includes, and all the predator stages preferred to feed on M. cribraria over C. includens. Both predators killed increasingly greater number of preys when exposed to increasing prey densities until a certain limit was reached. The limit in number of prey killed was probably imposed by predator satiation in conjunction with prey defense mechanisms. This study demonstrated that E. floridanus is a potential biocontrol agent for M. cribraria. However, more testing is necessary to determine the impact of this predator in the field.
Resumen
Las repuestas alimenticias de las chinches hediondas depredadoras, Euthyrhynchus floridanus (L.) y Podisus maculiventris Say (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) a la chinche del kudzu Megacopta cribraria (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) fueron estudiadas en laboratorio. Antes de los experimentos, los machos, hembras y ninfas del 3ro-4to estadíos de E. floridanus y P. maculiventris fueron mantenidos individualmente in cajas de Petri con una vaina de frijol y papel humedecido durante 24 h. Luego, fueron expuestos a un macho, hembra o tercer ninfal instar del M. cribraria con y sin Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) como presa alternativa durante 24 h. Otro experimento de laboratorio fué llevado a cabo para estimar la tasa de predación a diferentes densidades de presa. Un depredador individual macho o hembra fué expuesto a diferentes densidades de M. cribraria adultos (1 a 5). Euthyrhynchus floridanus fué un 20-40% más eficiente que P. maculiventris alimentándose de M. cribraria adultos con o sin C. includens como presa alternativa. La preferencia de presa de ambos depredadores no se vió afectada por la presencia de C. includens. Ambos depredadores consumieron un mayor número de presas cuando fueron expuestos a un aumento en el número de presas hasta que cierto límite fue alcanzado. El límite en el número de presas consumidas estuvo condicionado cuando el depredador estuvo saciado combinado con los mecanismos de defensa de la presa. Este estudio demostró que E. floridanus tiene potencial como agente de control biológico de M. cribraria. Sin embargo, se hacen necesario más pruebas para determinar el impacto de este depredador en el campo.
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