Consuming Parasitized Aphids Alters the Life History and Decreases Predation Rate of Aphid Predator

oleh: Jian-Feng Liu, Xiu-Qin Wang, Jacqueline R. Beggs, Hou-Ding Ou, Xiao-Fei Yu, Xiu-Xian Shen, Mao-Fa Yang

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2020-12-01

Deskripsi

Intraguild predation interactions have substantial theoretical and practical implications for the dynamics of natural competitor populations used for biological control. Intraguild predation on parasitized aphids not only has a direct, negative effect on the parasitoid species, but it may indirectly influence the predator’s development, survival, reproduction and predation rates. In this study, we used two-sex life table theory, life table parameters and predation rates of <i>Aphidoletes aphidimyza</i> (Rondani) to compare when its populations fed on aphids (<i>Myzus persicae</i> Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) that were either unparasitized or parasitized by <i>Aphidius gifuensis</i> (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Our results showed that individuals of <i>A. aphidimyza</i> were capable of completing their development and attaining maturity when they fed on parasitized aphids. Although feeding on parasitized aphids did not influence the survival rates of immature <i>A. aphidimyza</i>, it did significantly slow their development and extended their longevity, thereby reducing the fecundity and predation rates of <i>A. aphidimyza</i>. These findings may be pivotal for better understanding the sustained coexistence of predators with parasitoids in the biological control of aphids.