Competition for Aphid Prey between Different Lady Beetle Species in a Laboratory Arena

Direct competition for aphid prey (Hemiptera: Aphididae) was evaluated between and among several lady beetle species (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). The behavior of three native (Coccinella trifasciata, Coleomegilla maculata, and Hippodamia convergens) and four nonnative (Coccinella septempunctata, Har...

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Main Authors: Christy Leppanen, Andrei Alyokhin, Serena Gross
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/890327
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author Christy Leppanen
Andrei Alyokhin
Serena Gross
author_facet Christy Leppanen
Andrei Alyokhin
Serena Gross
author_sort Christy Leppanen
collection DOAJ
description Direct competition for aphid prey (Hemiptera: Aphididae) was evaluated between and among several lady beetle species (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). The behavior of three native (Coccinella trifasciata, Coleomegilla maculata, and Hippodamia convergens) and four nonnative (Coccinella septempunctata, Harmonia axyridis, Hippodamia variegata, and Propylea quatuordecimpunctata) lady beetles was observed in laboratory arenas. The beetles were kept alone, paired with conspecifics or paired with heterospecifics, and presented with potato aphids (Macrosiphum euphorbiae). Harmonia axyridis was the most successful aphid predator in our study, being able to find aphids more quickly and consume more of them compared to most other lady beetle species. It was also by far the most aggressive of the tested species. Coccinella septempunctata, C. trifasciata, and C. maculata generally followed H. axyridis in aphid consumption. Prey discovery, consumption, and aggressive behaviors were dependent on which species were present in the arena. Except for the generally superior H. axyridis, there was no obvious dominance hierarchy among the other tested species and no dichotomy between the native and non-native species. Asymmetric interactions between lady beetle species may affect their abilities to coexist in the same habitat.
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spelling doaj-art-a68a4a5e5efb42ec86758d1c6296fb872025-08-20T02:20:48ZengWileyPsyche: A Journal of Entomology0033-26151687-74382012-01-01201210.1155/2012/890327890327Competition for Aphid Prey between Different Lady Beetle Species in a Laboratory ArenaChristy Leppanen0Andrei Alyokhin1Serena Gross2U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, P. O. Box 50088, Honolulu, HI 96850-5000, USASchool of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5722, USASchool of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5722, USADirect competition for aphid prey (Hemiptera: Aphididae) was evaluated between and among several lady beetle species (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). The behavior of three native (Coccinella trifasciata, Coleomegilla maculata, and Hippodamia convergens) and four nonnative (Coccinella septempunctata, Harmonia axyridis, Hippodamia variegata, and Propylea quatuordecimpunctata) lady beetles was observed in laboratory arenas. The beetles were kept alone, paired with conspecifics or paired with heterospecifics, and presented with potato aphids (Macrosiphum euphorbiae). Harmonia axyridis was the most successful aphid predator in our study, being able to find aphids more quickly and consume more of them compared to most other lady beetle species. It was also by far the most aggressive of the tested species. Coccinella septempunctata, C. trifasciata, and C. maculata generally followed H. axyridis in aphid consumption. Prey discovery, consumption, and aggressive behaviors were dependent on which species were present in the arena. Except for the generally superior H. axyridis, there was no obvious dominance hierarchy among the other tested species and no dichotomy between the native and non-native species. Asymmetric interactions between lady beetle species may affect their abilities to coexist in the same habitat.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/890327
spellingShingle Christy Leppanen
Andrei Alyokhin
Serena Gross
Competition for Aphid Prey between Different Lady Beetle Species in a Laboratory Arena
Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
title Competition for Aphid Prey between Different Lady Beetle Species in a Laboratory Arena
title_full Competition for Aphid Prey between Different Lady Beetle Species in a Laboratory Arena
title_fullStr Competition for Aphid Prey between Different Lady Beetle Species in a Laboratory Arena
title_full_unstemmed Competition for Aphid Prey between Different Lady Beetle Species in a Laboratory Arena
title_short Competition for Aphid Prey between Different Lady Beetle Species in a Laboratory Arena
title_sort competition for aphid prey between different lady beetle species in a laboratory arena
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/890327
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AT serenagross competitionforaphidpreybetweendifferentladybeetlespeciesinalaboratoryarena