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Functional response of Euseius concordis to densities of different developmental stages of the cassava green mite

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Abstract

Both prey density and developmental stage of pests and natural enemies are known to influence the effectiveness of biological control. However, little is known about the interaction between prey density and population structure on predation and fecundity of generalist predatory mites. Here, we evaluated the functional response (number of prey eaten by predator in relation to prey density) of adult females and nymphs of the generalist predatory mite Euseius concordis to densities of different developmental stages of the cassava green mite Mononychellus tanajoa, as well as the fecundity of adult females of the predator. We further assessed the instantaneous rate of increase, based on fecundity and mortality, of E. concordis fed on eggs, immatures and adults of M. tanajoa. Overall, nymphs and adults of E. concordis feeding on eggs, immatures and females of M. tanajoa had a type III functional response curve suggesting that the predator increased prey consumption rate as prey density increased. Both nymphs and adult females of the predator consumed more eggs than immatures of M. tanajoa from the density of 20 items per leaf disc onwards, revealing an interaction between prey density and developmental stage in the predatory activity of E. concordis. In addition, population growth rate was higher when the predator fed on eggs and immatures in comparison with females. Altogether our results suggest that E. concordis may be a good candidate for the biological control of M. tanajoa populations. However, the efficiency of E. concordis as a biological control agent of M. tanajoa is contingent on prey density and population structure.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Esther A. Silva for the identification of the predatory mite and Anilde Maciel for help with experiments. Funding was provided by PNPD/CAPES (PNPD0132080), CNPq (474994/2009-0) and FAPEMA (APP-00991/09).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Programme in Agroecology, Maranhão State University (UEMA), PO Box 09, São Luís, MA, Brazil

    Évila C. Costa, Adenir V. Teodoro & Adriano S. Rêgo

  2. Embrapa Coastal Tablelands, Av. Beira-Mar 3250, Jardins, PO Box 44, Aracaju, SE, Brazil

    Adenir V. Teodoro

  3. Federal University of Tocantins, PO Box 66, Gurupi, TO, Brazil

    Marçal Pedro-Neto & Renato A. Sarmento

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  1. Évila C. Costa
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  2. Adenir V. Teodoro
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  3. Adriano S. Rêgo
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  4. Marçal Pedro-Neto
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  5. Renato A. Sarmento
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Correspondence to Adenir V. Teodoro.

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Costa, É.C., Teodoro, A.V., Rêgo, A.S. et al. Functional response of Euseius concordis to densities of different developmental stages of the cassava green mite. Exp Appl Acarol 64, 277–286 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-014-9823-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-014-9823-x

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