Predatory activity and spatial pattern: the response of generalist carabids to their aphid prey

摘要: 1. The spatial distribution of cereal aphids infesting a field winter wheat during the population establishment, development and decline phases were studied using field-scale grid sampling locations. 2. two generalist predators, Pterostichus melanarius P. madidus, sampled contemporaneously. 3. Using analysis by distance indices (SADIE), pattern in aphid population, predator activity-density, hunger predation was detected mapped. 4. We tested hypothesis that carabids spatially associated with one another through predation. Aphid individual beetles enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) assessed measurement foregut weights. 5. Initially, there strong dissociation between activity-density. While increasing association both madidus During no measurable predatory 6. Predation strongly locally activity-density on all sample dates for species, regardless pattern. 7. Areas within most isolated from had highest rates increase. 8. Although proportion individuals consuming much lower compared to it concluded more effective biological control agent due its comparative abundance.