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Chinese Journal of Biological Control ›› 2023, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (1): 38-45.DOI: 10.16409/j.cnki.2095-039x.2021.11.021

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Predatory Functional Response and Predation Preference of Ladybeetle Harmonia axyridis to Acyrthosiphon pisum and Odontothrips loti on Alfalfa

CUI Xiaoning1, XI Boxin2, ZHANG Bohong1, SUN Yuanxing2, HU Guixin1, LIU Yanjun1, HAO Yanan2   

  1. 1. College of Pratacultural Science, Gansu Agricultural University/Key Laboratory for Grassland Ecosystem of Education Ministry/Engineering and Technology Research Center for Alpine Rodent Pests Control, National Forestry and Grassland, Lanzhou 730070, China;
    2. College of Plant Protection, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
  • Received:2022-02-21 Online:2023-02-08 Published:2023-02-21

Abstract: The multicolored Asian ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis is an important predatory natural enemy in alfalfa fields in China. The pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum and the thrip Odontothrips loti are two serious piercing-sucking pests in alfalfa fields. In this study, predatory functional response and predation preference were measured to clarify the biological control potential of H. axyridis towards A. pisum and O. loti. Briefly, the 2nd—3rd instar nymphs of A. pisum and adults of O. loti were provided as prey for 1st—4th instar larvae and the female adults of H. axyridis, respectively. The results showed that the predatory functional response of the larvae and female adults of H. axyridis feeding on both of two prey species fitted with the Holling Ⅱ model. Feeding on A. pisum nymphs, the 4th instar larvae of H. axyridis displayed the highest predation ability, followed by the female adults. Meanwhile, the predation ability of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rdinstar larvae gradually decreased with the reduction of developmental stage. When feeding on O. loti adults, the female adults of H. axyridis exhibited the highest predation ability, followed by the 4th instar larvae, while the 2nd and 3rd instar larvae showed relatively low predation ability. Feeding on A. pisum nymphs and O. loti adults, the searching efficiency of the 1st—4th instar larvae and female adults of H. axyridis decreased with increasing prey density. When H. axyridis 4th instar larvae and female adults were fed A. pisum nymphs and O. loti adults at different ratios (40:80, 60:60 and 80:40), the 4th instar larvae preferred A. pisum with a predation preference index (D)>1, whereas the female adults showed no preference with a predation preference index (D)<1. In conclusion, H. axyridis has great control ability against the 2nd—3rd instar A. pisum nymphs and O. loti adults, and the 4th instar larvae and female adults exhibit especially higher predation capability compared to the younger larvae. The 4th instar larvae of H. axyridis prefer A. pisum nymphs when they coexisted with O. loti adults.

Key words: Harmonia axyridis, Acyrthosiphon pisum, Odontothrips loti, functional response, predation preference

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