Preference and Prey Switching in a Generalist Predator Attacking Local and Invasive Alien Pests

摘要: Invasive pest species may strongly affect biotic interactions in agro-ecosystems. The ability of generalist predators to prey on new invasive pests result drastic changes the population dynamics local owing predator-mediated indirect among prey. On a short time scale, nature and strength such depend largely preferences between predator behavior patterns. Under laboratory conditions we evaluated preference Macrolophus pygmaeus Rambur (Heteroptera: Miridae) when it encounters simultaneously tomato Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) alien Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). We tested various ratios vs. numbers, measuring switching by from one other, assessing what (e.g. abundance development stage) favor switching. total predation activity M. was affected presence T. complex with an opposite effect comparing adult juvenile predators. showed similar toward T. absoluta eggs B. nymphs, but larvae were clearly less attacked. However, depended relative disproportionately high most abundant low rarest Together findings recent companion study (Bompard et al. 2013, Population Ecology), insight obtained M. pygmaeus be useful for Integrated Pest Management crops, notably optimal simultaneous management B. tabaci T. absoluta, which very frequently co-occur tomato.