D.A. Maselou

Plant Resources as a Factor Altering Emergent Multi-Predator Effects.

Multiple predator effects (MPEs) can modify the strength of pest regulation, causing positive or negative deviations from those that are predicted from independent effects of isolated predators. Despite increasing evidence that omnivory can shape predator-prey interactions, few studies have examined the impact of alternative plant food on interactions between multiple predators. In the present study, we examined the effects and interactions of two omnivorous mirids, Μacrolophus pygmaeus and Nesidiocoris tenuis, on different densities of their aphid prey, Myzus persicae. Prey were offered to the to single or pairs of mirid predator individuals, either conspecific or heterospecific on a leaf, while simultaneously adding or excluding a flower as an alternative food resource. Data were compared with calculated expected values using the multiplicative risk model and the substitutive model. We showed that predation of aphids was reduced in the presence of the alternative flower resource in treatments with single M. pygmaeus individuals, but not with single N. tenuis individuals. When the predators had access only to prey, the effects of multiple predation, either conspecific or heterospecific, were additive. The addition of an alternative plant resource differently affected MPEs depending on the nature of predator pairings. Predation risk was increased in conspecific M. pygmaeus treatments at intermediate prey densities, whereas it was reduced in conspecific N. tenuis treatments at high prey densities. Observations of foraging behaviour concerning the location of conspecific pairings revealed that M. pygmaeus individuals showed a clear tendency to reside mainly in the flower, whereas N. tenuis individuals were found to reside at different posts in the dish. We suggest that the competition between omnivorous predators may be mediated through the diversity of their plant feeding preferences, which directly affects the strength of MPEs. Consequently, the preferences of the interacting predators for different plant resources should be considered in studies evaluating the outcomes of MPEs.

Studies on the damage potential of Closterotomus (=Calocoris) trivialis and Aphanosoma italicum (Hemiptera: Miridae) on citrus

This study aimed to investigate the damage potential of two hemipteran species that are commonly recorded in citrus orchards of the eastern Mediterranean region. These were Closterotomustrivialis Costa and Aphanosoma italicum Costa (Hemiptera: Miridae). Shoots on sweet orange trees were enclosed in muslin cages into each of which eight nymphs or eight adults were introduced not only in the early development of the buds but also in the different stages of the flowering period in 2008 (i.e., 6 and 19 March, 10 April and 2 May). In the experiments, adults of C. trivialis, and nymphs and adults of A. italicum were used. According to the results, in a few cases these insects caused a significant reduction in the number of buds or flowers and fruits dropped in comparison to the controls. However, the number of fruits that finally remained on the trees was not significantly affected. Therefore, the damage potential of these mirids on the fruit production of citrus was not shown to be significant under our experimental conditions.

Prey-mediated changes in the selectivity of the predator Macrolophus pygmaeus (Heteroptera: Miridae): Prey selection of a generalist predator

When foraging in communities with mixed prey, generalist predators may be confronted with prey species that differ in quality, size and mobility and interact with one another. To examine prey selection, predation by Macrolophus pygmaeus (Heteroptera: Miridae) was recorded by providing a diet of either one or two prey species of Myzus persicae (third‐instar nymphs), Aphis gossypii (fourth‐instar nymphs), Trialeurodes vaporariorum (third‐instar nymphs) and Ephestia kuehniella (eggs). In the experiments, prey mobility, prey quality and prey biomass were considered. The biomass consumed by the predator was dependent on the combination of prey species and the quantity of biomass offered. In choice experiments with diets mixed of two prey species at equal densities, the predation to A. gossypii was significantly reduced in the presence of E. kuehniella but the rate of consumption of M. persicae, T. vaporariorum and E.kuehniella was not significantly affected by the coexistence of any other species in the mixed prey diet. When equal amounts of biomass from two prey species were provided in combination, the total consumed biomass was significantly reduced in the mixed prey diets composed of E. kuehniella eggs and aphid nymphs. Thus, under the mixed‐prey situation, prey selection by predators may be affected by interactions among prey species differing in traits such as quality, mobility and size.