Influence of phytophagous behaviour on prey consumption by Macrolophus pygmaeus

Abstract

Omnivorous Heteroptera constitute an important component of predatory guilds with high potential for biological control. Understanding the relative effects of plant feeding on the suppression of prey by omnivores could be an important element for improving biological control strategies. In the current paper, the effects of different plant food sources on the predation rate of the omnivorous predator Macrolophus pygmaeus (Hemiptera: Miridae) were examined. In all the experiments, second instar nymphs of the aphid Myzus persicae (Homoptera: Aphididae) were used as prey at different densities. First, we evaluated the rate at which the predator preyed on M. persicae at various prey densities on pepper and eggplant leaves. Then, using eggplant flowers or pollen as additional food sources, we estimated predator efficiency for three different prey densities. The predation rate was not affected by the type of plant leaf used. However, the results showed that the predation rate of M. pygmaeus was significantly reduced when flowers or pollen were provided at high prey densities. The importance of these results in understanding the influence of phytophagy on predation rates of omnivorous predators is discussed.