Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) often is the dominant crop in agricultural landscapes on the Southern Great Plains. The greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), is a sporadic aphid pest on small grains in the region and capable of causing widespread destruction during outbreaks. Natural enemies such as parasitoid wasps (Braconidae), lady beetles (Coccinellidae), and green lacewings (Chrysopidae) are common in wheat fields and regularly prevent outbreaks of aphids. When natural enemies co-exist, and compete for common resources, intraguild predation can occur. Previous studies demonstrated that lady beetles readily feed on parasitized aphids but intraguild predation had negative consequences on survival, development, and adult body size of lady beetles. Green lacewings, especially Chrysoperla spp., significantly outnumber lady beetles in Oklahoma winter cropping systems, but effects of intraguild predation on parasitized aphids by green lacewings have not been studied. Feeding capabilities of first- and third-instar Chrysoperla rufilabris Burmeister and diet suitability were evaluated to determine if green lacewing larvae fed, survived, and developed on mummified greenbugs. C. rufilabris first and third instars readily fed on mummified greenbugs that were suitable for survival and development of the lacewings. Survival ratios, development times and adult weights of lacewings fed mummified greenbugs were similar to those fed aphid prey. The polyphagous green lacewing C. rufilabris seems well adapted for using nutritional resources of aphid prey and parasitoid competitors.
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21 March 2019
Suitability of Schizaphis graminum Parasitized by Lysiphlebus testaceipes as Intraguild Prey for Chrysoperla rufilabris
Casi N. Jessie,
Kristopher L. Giles,
Tom A. Royer,
Mark E. Payton,
Norman C. Elliott,
William P. Jessie
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Southwestern Entomologist
Vol. 44 • No. 1
March 2019
Vol. 44 • No. 1
March 2019