Abstract
Environmental variables, such as temperature, are important in determining the efficiency of biological control in ornamental crops. This paper examines the effect of temperature on the functional response of adult female Phytoseiulus persimilis to eggs of the spider mite, Tetranychus urticae. The functional response was determined using a new functional response assay technique with plant stems as an arena, rather than leaf discs. The use of plant stems allows the influence that plant structure has on predation to be incorporated into the assay. Control assays were also used (without predators) to estimate natural losses of prey. The data were analysed using a binomial model, with the use of Abbot's formula to correct for the losses in the controls. A combined equation to describe the effect of temperature and prey density on the predation rate of Phytoseiulus persimilis was derived. The results showed that more prey are eaten as the temperature increases from 15 °C to 25 °C, but the number of prey eaten then declines at 30 °C, although not to the levels seen at 20 °C. The implication of these results for biological control in ornamental crops, where the temperature can often exceed 30 °C, is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Burnett T. 1970. An acarine predator-prey population infesting roses. Res. Popul. Ecol. 20: 227–234.
Castagnoli M. and Simoni S. 1994. The effect of high temperature on development and survival rate of Amblyseius californicus (McGregor) eggs. Proceedings Second Symposium EURAAC, Krynica (Poland). 31 August–5 September 1992.
Collett D. 1991. Modelling Binary Data. Chapman & Hall, Boca Raton.
Everson P. 1980. The relative activity and functional response of Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) and Tetranychus urticae (Acarina: Tetranychidae): the effect of temperature. Can. Entomol. 112: 17–24.
Fernando M.H.J.P. and Hassell M.P. 1980. Predator-prey responses in an acarine system. Res. Popul. Ecol. 22: 301–322.
Force D.C. 1967. Effect of temperature on biological control of two-spotted spider mites by Phytoseiulus persimilis. J. Econ. Entomol. 60: 1308–1311.
Gillespie D.R., Opit G. and Roitberg B. 2000. Effects of temperature and relative humidity on development, reproduction and predation in Feltiella acarisuga (Vallot) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Biol. Control 17: 132–138.
Hislop R.G. and Prokopy R.J. 1981. Mite predator response to prey and predator-emitted stimuli. J. Chem. Ecol. 7: 895–904.
Hurlbert S.H. 1984. Pseudoreplication and the design of ecological field experiments. Ecol. Monogr. 54: 187–211.
Monetti L.N. and Croft B.A. 1997. Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) and Neoseiulus fallacis (Garman): larval response to prey and humidity, nymphal feeding drive and nymphal predation on phytoseiid eggs. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 21: 225–234.
Payne R.W. 2000. The Guide to Genstat. VSN International Ltd, Oxford, UK.
Ryoo M.I. 1986. Studies on the basic components of the predation of Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acarina: Phytoseiidae). Res. Popul. Ecol. 28: 17–26.
Sabelis M.W. 1981. Biological control of two-spotted spider mites using phytoseiid predators. Part I. Modelling the predator-prey interaction at the individual level. Agricultural Research Reports 910, Pudoc, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Sabelis M.W. 1986. The functional response of predatory mites to the density of two spotted spider mites. In: Metz J.A.J. and Diekmann O. (eds), Lecture Notes in Biomathematics 68: The Dynamics of Physiologically Structured Populations. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 298–321.
Sabelis M.W. and Van der Meer J. 1986. Local dynamics of the interaction between predatory mites and two-spotted mites. In: Metz J.A.J. and Diekmann O. (eds), Lecture Notes in Biomathematics 68: The Dynamics of Physiologically Structured Populations. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 322–344.
Shipp J.L., Ward K.I. and Gillespie T.J. 1996. Influence of temperature and vapour pressure deficit on the rate of predation by the predatory mite, Amblyseius cucumeris, on Frankliniella occidentalis. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 78: 31–38.
Skirvin D.J. and de Courcy Williams M.E. 1999. Differential effects of plant species on a mite pest (Tetranychus urticae) and its predator (Phytoseiulus persimilis): implications for biological control. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 23: 497–512.
Skirvin D.J. and Fenlon J.S. 2001. Plant species modifies the functional response of Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae): implications for biological control. B. Entomol. Res. 91: 61–67.
Skirvin D.J., de Courcy Williams M.E., Sunderland K.D. and Fenlon J.S. 2002. Modelling the effects of plant species on biocontrol effectiveness in ornamental nursery crops. J. Appl. Ecol. 39: 469–480.
Skirvin D.J. and Fenlon J.S. 2003. Of mites and movement: The effect of temperature and plant connectedness on the movement of Phytoseiulus persimilis. Biol. Control 27: 242–250.
Takafuji A. and Chant D.A. 1976. Comparative studies of two species of predaceous phytoseiid mites (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) with special reference to their responses to the density of prey. Res. Popul. Ecol. 17: 255–310.
Van de Vrie M. 1985. Greenhouse ornamentals. In: Helle W. and Sabelis M.W. (eds), Spider Mites-Their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control. Vol. 1B. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 273–284.
Van Lenteren J.C. and Bakker K. 1976. Functional response in invertebrates. Neth. J. Zool. 24: 567–572.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Skirvin, D.J., Fenlon, J.S. The effect of temperature on the functional response of Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Exp Appl Acarol 31, 37–49 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:APPA.0000005107.97373.87
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:APPA.0000005107.97373.87