Publication Type
Journal Article
Journal Name
Biological Control
Publication Date
6-1-2002
Abstract
A locally available anthocorid predator, Orius albidipennis Reuter, was evaluated as a candidate biocontrol agent for Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom, a major pest of French beans, Phaseolus vulgaris (L), in Kenya. The functional response of adult O. albidipennis to larval and adult M. sjostedti was studied at 15, 25, and 28°C and densities of 5, 10, 20, and 30 larval and adult M. sjostedti per cage, over 24 h. More larvae and adult M. sjostedti were killed at the higher densities and with an increase in temperature. The data provided good fit to both type I and II functional response models. Attack rates increased with temperature for both the second instar larva and adult M. sjostedti. Handling times for the larvae decreased with an increase in temperature while those for the adults increased with increase in temperature. The implications of these results are discussed. © 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Keywords
Biological control, Functional response, Megalurothrips sjostedti, Orius albidipennis, Prey-predator interactions, Temperature
Recommended Citation
Gitonga, L., Overholt, W., Löhr, B., Magambo, J., & Mueke, J. (2002). Functional response of Orius albidipennis (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) to Megalurothrips sjostedti (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Biological Control, 24 (1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1049-9644(02)00001-4