Functional Responses of Nephus arcuatus Kapur (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), the Most Important Predator of Spherical Mealybug Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead)

Nephus arcuatus Kapur is an important predator of Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead), in citrus orchards of southwestern Iran. This study examined the feeding efficiency of all stages of N. arcuatus at different densities of N. viridis eggs by estimating their functional responses. First and 2nd instar...

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Main Authors: Sara Zarghami, Mohammad Saeed Mossadegh, Farhan Kocheili, Hossein Allahyari, Arash Rasekh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9417496
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author Sara Zarghami
Mohammad Saeed Mossadegh
Farhan Kocheili
Hossein Allahyari
Arash Rasekh
author_facet Sara Zarghami
Mohammad Saeed Mossadegh
Farhan Kocheili
Hossein Allahyari
Arash Rasekh
author_sort Sara Zarghami
collection DOAJ
description Nephus arcuatus Kapur is an important predator of Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead), in citrus orchards of southwestern Iran. This study examined the feeding efficiency of all stages of N. arcuatus at different densities of N. viridis eggs by estimating their functional responses. First and 2nd instar larvae as well as adult males exhibited a type II functional response. Attack rate and handling time were estimated to be 0.2749 h−1 and 5.4252 h, respectively, for 1st instars, 0.5142 h−1 and 1.1995 h for 2nd instars, and 0.4726 h−1 and 0.7765 h for adult males. In contrast, 3rd and 4th instar larvae and adult females of N. arcuatus exhibited a type III functional response. Constant b and handling time were estimated to be 0.0142 and 0.4064 h for 3rd instars, respectively, 0.00660 and 0.1492 h for 4th instars, and 0.00859 and 0.2850 h for adult females. The functional response of these six developmental stages differed in handling time. Based on maximum predation rate, 4th instar larvae were the most predatory (160.9 eggs/d) followed by adult females (84.2 eggs/d). These findings suggest that N. arcuatus is a promising biocontrol agent of N. viridis eggs especially for 4th instar larvae and adult females.
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spelling doaj-art-d8e486ed669a4908ace39f9695bbef402025-08-20T02:20:57ZengWileyPsyche: A Journal of Entomology0033-26151687-74382016-01-01201610.1155/2016/94174969417496Functional Responses of Nephus arcuatus Kapur (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), the Most Important Predator of Spherical Mealybug Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead)Sara Zarghami0Mohammad Saeed Mossadegh1Farhan Kocheili2Hossein Allahyari3Arash Rasekh4Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, IranDepartment of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, IranDepartment of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, IranDepartment of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, IranDepartment of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, IranNephus arcuatus Kapur is an important predator of Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead), in citrus orchards of southwestern Iran. This study examined the feeding efficiency of all stages of N. arcuatus at different densities of N. viridis eggs by estimating their functional responses. First and 2nd instar larvae as well as adult males exhibited a type II functional response. Attack rate and handling time were estimated to be 0.2749 h−1 and 5.4252 h, respectively, for 1st instars, 0.5142 h−1 and 1.1995 h for 2nd instars, and 0.4726 h−1 and 0.7765 h for adult males. In contrast, 3rd and 4th instar larvae and adult females of N. arcuatus exhibited a type III functional response. Constant b and handling time were estimated to be 0.0142 and 0.4064 h for 3rd instars, respectively, 0.00660 and 0.1492 h for 4th instars, and 0.00859 and 0.2850 h for adult females. The functional response of these six developmental stages differed in handling time. Based on maximum predation rate, 4th instar larvae were the most predatory (160.9 eggs/d) followed by adult females (84.2 eggs/d). These findings suggest that N. arcuatus is a promising biocontrol agent of N. viridis eggs especially for 4th instar larvae and adult females.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9417496
spellingShingle Sara Zarghami
Mohammad Saeed Mossadegh
Farhan Kocheili
Hossein Allahyari
Arash Rasekh
Functional Responses of Nephus arcuatus Kapur (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), the Most Important Predator of Spherical Mealybug Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead)
Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
title Functional Responses of Nephus arcuatus Kapur (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), the Most Important Predator of Spherical Mealybug Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead)
title_full Functional Responses of Nephus arcuatus Kapur (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), the Most Important Predator of Spherical Mealybug Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead)
title_fullStr Functional Responses of Nephus arcuatus Kapur (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), the Most Important Predator of Spherical Mealybug Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead)
title_full_unstemmed Functional Responses of Nephus arcuatus Kapur (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), the Most Important Predator of Spherical Mealybug Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead)
title_short Functional Responses of Nephus arcuatus Kapur (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), the Most Important Predator of Spherical Mealybug Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead)
title_sort functional responses of nephus arcuatus kapur coleoptera coccinellidae the most important predator of spherical mealybug nipaecoccus viridis newstead
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9417496
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