Background

Neoseiulus barkeri (Hughes), Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot, and Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytosiidae) are efficient control agents of the mite pest Tetranychus urticae (Koch) (Tetranychidae). Neoseiulus barkeri is considered as a generalist predatory mite (type III subtype e) which can feed on Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Ramakers and Van Lieburg 1982), Thrips tabaci Lind. (Bonde 1989), spider mites (Momen and El-Borolossy 1999), stored product mites (Huang et al. 2013), and pollen grains (Addison et al. 2000). Amblyseius swirskii (type III subtype b) feeds usually on whitefly as well as spider, tarsonomid, and eriophyid mites, also thrips and pollen grains (Messelink et al. 2006; Momen 2009; Riahi et al. 2017), whereas N. californicus (the selective predator of tetranychid mites, type II) feeds on various species of the family Tetranychidae (McMurtry et al. 2013).

Maleknia et al. (2016) stated that in both greenhouse and outdoor conditions, T. urticae is an important pest of cucumber and it is necessary to be controlled by predatory mites of the family Phytoseiidae. Intraguild predation (IGP) can occur when two or more predatory species sharing the same habitat and one species-being the intraguild predator (IG-predator) and the others-intraguild preys (IG-prey) and competing for the same prey (extra-guild prey (EG-prey) (Janssen et al. 2006; Momen and Abdel-Khalek 2009b). Some phytoseiid mites can kill and consume phytoseiid competitors when their natural or favorable mite/insect preys density is low (Ahmad et al. 2015). Discrimination between conspecific (the same predatory species) and heterospecific (another predatory species) individuals as (IG-prey) was known in some generalist phytoseiid mites (Schausberger 1999). Generalist phytoseiid mites (type III) preferred to predate on heterospecific to conspecific, although T. urticae was not reduced (Schausberger 1999). Ahmad et al. (2015) indicated that predation on heterospecific immature stage is the main aspect in IGP. In previous investigations, some traits of IGP in immatures and females predatory phytoseiid mites were investigated (Momen and Abdel-Khalek 2009a, b; Momen 2010; Ahmad et al. 2015). Amblyseius swirskii had higher predation rates on heterospecific prey Typhlodromus athiasae Porth and Swirski and Eusieus scutalis (Athias-Henriot) than on conspecific prey and all females failed to predate on eggs and protonymphs of its own (Momen and Abdel-Khalek 2009b). Also, A. swirskii was able to consume all stages (eggs, larvae, protonymphs, deutonymphs) of N. barkeri and P. persimilis Athias-Henriot (Maleknia et al. 2016). Neoseiulus barkeri females consumed more larvae and protonymphs of Typhlodrmous negevi Swirski and Amitai than its own (Momen 2010) and also attacked similar amounts of A. swirskii as P. persimilis (Maleknia et al. 2016). Neoseiulus californicus, Typhlodromips montdorensis (Schicha), and T. pyri (Scheuten) can feed on larval stages of each other and sustain oviposition (Hatherly et al. 2005). Both N. californicus and A. swirskii could serve as IG-predators and could develop on their IG-prey (Guo et al. 2016). Some factors may affect the strength of IGP and outcome of biological control and this primary is dependent on the predator species and ranges from harmful to harmless IG predators (Walzer and Schausberger 2013). These factors included predator aggressiveness, activity, and habitat characteristics (Walzer et al. 2004).

Because there was no previous study exists on IGP among N. barkeri, N. californicus, and A. swirskii in the absence or presence of T. urticae, the aim of the present study was to determine the interactions among the generalist predators in absence and presence of the EG-prey T. urticae. As well, the effect of different IG-prey in ovipositional period, longevity, predation rate, and fecundity of predatory mite females as IG-predators was investigated. Also, comparison of all the above parameters for IG-predators fed IG-prey with those obtained on mixed (IG-prey) with (EG-prey) T. urticae was done.

Materials and methods

Mite rearing

Initial culture of the two-spotted spider mite, T. urticae, was obtained from bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown in the field, at Giza Governorate, Egypt. It was maintained under the laboratory conditions of 25 ± 1 °C, 60 ± 5% RH, and 16:8 h (L:D) photoperiod on acalypha plant Acalypha wilkesiana (Eupharbiaceae) as a wild plant in plastic trays. Fresh plants infested with T. urticae were placed in the trays weekly.

Neoseiulus barkeri and A. swirskii were obtained from cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L.), grown in Fayoum Governorate, while N. californicus was collected from pepper in Giza Province. In the laboratory, they were reared on whole acalypha leaves that densely infested with T. urticae in a growth chamber at 28 ± 2 °C, 75 ± 5% RH, 16:8 h (L:D). New infested bean plants leaves were added to each predatory culture and the old ones were removed from each colony daily. The leaves were placed on water-saturated cotton pads in Petri dishes.

Leaf disks

Leaf disks, cut from leaflets collected from the middle part of acalypha plant, were placed in Petri dishes (6 cm in diameter). Each plate was considered a replicate. The leaf disks (with 3.5 cm of diameter each) were placed on a water-saturated cotton pad in the Petri dishes in order to keep the leaves fresh. Water-saturated, absorbent cotton strip, (1 cm wide), placed around the edge of the leaf disk, covered by a water-saturated cotton strip to prevent mites from escaping.

Newly emerged female of each species and one male were transferred onto rearing leaf disk with excess of food and left to mate. The male was removed, and the female transferred to fresh leaf disk and left 24 h without food to guarantee that all females had been starved for an equal period of time. Each experiment consisted of 24 mated females on individual disks supplied with a specific prey species.

Intraguild predation test

In the experiments, predatory mites’ females were considered as (IG-predator), while larvae of heterospecifics species were considered as IG-prey (Montserrat et al. 2012).

The first set of experiments was female’s predatory mite provided with only larval stages of its phytoseiid prey. Larval stage was selected because it is easy to handle and could be quickly selected once they had hatched. Larva was also a preferred stage for N. barkeri, A. swirskii, and N. californicus (Momen 2010). As a control, females of each predatory species were fed solely on T. urticae larvae.

Choice test

The second set of experiments was the choice test, which provided female mites of each predatory species with (50% of T. urticae larvae and 50% of phytoseiid larva) as a food source.

Every 24 h, the ovipositional period, ovipositional rate, the number of each food source consumed (determined by larval corpses), and female survival, was recorded. All excess food and corpses larvae on each disk were removed at each observation period and replaced with an identical amount of food as previously supplied. Dead and eaten larvae were removed from arenas and replaced daily. The shriveled corpses of the dead larvae were taken as evidence of predation. Observations were made daily and predatory females were checked until their death. In the preference test (T. urticae and phytoseiid larvae), the number of T. urticae eaten compared with the number of phytoseiid larval prey consumed was determined.

Statistical analysis

One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (SPSS computer program) was conducted to evaluate the mean pre-oviposition and oviposition periods, longevity, mean total and daily number of eggs laid per female, mean total, and daily number of prey (IG-prey/EG-prey) consumed per female for each predator species kept on each of its prey sources.

Before the analyses, data were checked for normality. Data were fitted with the assumption of normality, not transformed, and means were compared by Tukey’s HSD (P = 0.05 level).

Results and discussion

Performance of Neoseiulus californicus (IG-predator) on Neoseiulus barkeri/Amblyseius swirskii (IG-prey) and Tetranychus urticae (EG-prey)

Neoseiulus californicus lived significantly longer when fed solely on T. urticae and A. swirskii than when fed on A. barkeri or on a mixed diet of T. urticae and phytoseiid prey (F6,161 = 85.70, P = 0.0001). The mean ovipositional period of N. californicus females fed on combined diets (10 T. urticae + 10 N. barkeri) performed shorter than those fed only on A. swirskii or T. urticae combined with other IG-prey. When N. californicus fed solely on N. barkeri larvae, females failed to sustain oviposition, while on T. urticae gave a higher fecundity rate than on A. swirskii or on a mixture of T. urticae and any other phytoseiid larvae (F6,161 = 3364, P = 0.000) (Table 1).

Table 1 Mean (± SE) pre-oviposition, oviposition periods and longevity, mean number (± SE) of total and daily eggs laid per female, total and daily number (± SE) of prey consumed per female for Neoseiulus californicus fed solely on Tetranychus urticae (T.u.) or larval Neoseiulus barkeri (N.b.), Amblyseius swirskii (A.S.) or on a combination of T. urticae and larval phytoseiid
Full size table

Prey type or number influenced the number of prey consumed by N. californicus. When N. californicus fed solely on EG-prey/IG-prey/combined prey, a significant difference was observed in its predation rate (F6,161 = 4009.60, 3017.76, P = 0.000). Neoseiulus californicus fed N. barkeri/A. swirskii larvae, its predation rate was significantly higher on the latter species (Table 1). Neoseiulus californicus consumed more T. urticae in total than those fed a mixed diet. It consumed significantly similar amount of IG-prey N. barkeri/A. swirskii, when combined with T. urticae (case of 20 T. urticae + 20 IG-prey). It was also noticed that providing of T. urticae significantly decreased the predation rate of IG-prey (Table 1). Neoseiulus californicus consumed up to 3.68, 4.13, and 2.93, 3.67 T. urticae for every 1 N. barkeri and A. swirskii when fed on both prey sources. According to Lucas (2005), IGP can be unidirectional/bidirectional (mutual), the latter case when 2/3 predator species prey on each other and each predator is also prey and vice versa. The present study proved that predation rates of the 3 tested predator species were bidirectional in absence or presence of T. urticae as EG-prey. Previous research has demonstrated that N. barkeri, N. californicus, and A. swirskii can serve as either prey or predators in intraguild predatory interactions among biological control agents (Maleknia et al. 2016; Haghani et al. 2019).

Females of N. californicus consumed IG-prey of N. barkeri and A. swirskii in non-choice experiments. Female’s predator ate nearly 3 times more A. swirskii than N. barkeri. When T. urtice was combined, females of N. californicus fed on both T. urticae and both IG-prey with higher preference to T. urticae than phytoseiid larvae suggesting that the two-spotted spider mite is its preferred food. Resemble results were reported by Hatherly et al. (2005) who stated that when N. californicus offered a mixed diet of (phytoseiid larvae and T. urticae), it showed a marked preference for T. urticae. When N. californicus females were offered T. urticae combined with IG-prey, the IGP rate declined although the fecundity increased, except when fed on A. swirskii. This result is similar to those obtained by Meszaros et al. (2007) with Typhlodromus exhilarates Ragusa and T. phialatus Athias-Henriot and in general trends reported for the family Phytoseiidae (Schausberger 2003). The difference in IGP by N. californicus on A. swirskii and N. barkerii suggested that N. barkeri was unfavorable IG-prey to be fed and reproduce by N. californicus and could explain that both predators have differences in distribution in their habitat where N. californicus is more dominant on plants and always associated with tetranychid mites that producing heavy webbing; while N. barkeri living in soil/litter habitat while A. swirskii living on glabrous leaves (McMurtry et al. 2013). Moreover, N. californicus failed to sustain egg production when it was fed IG-prey N. barkeri. On the contrary, Farazmand et al. (2015) indicated that N. californicus was able to sustain oviposition on IG prey. When the population of T. urticae is low and that could happen at the beginning and end of the cropping season, N. californicus may be able to feed and reproduce on IG-prey A. swirskii to maintain its population for a short time and certainly not on IG-prey N. barkeri since predation on that diet for survival only and not to producing offspring.

Performance of Neoseiulus barkeri (IG-predator) on Neoseiulus californicus/Amblyseius swirskii (IG-prey) and Tetranychus urticae (EG-prey)

The mean ovipositional period of N. barkeri females fed A. swirskii larvae was significantly longer than those fed N. californicus (F6,161 = 320.47, P = 0.000). Neoseiulus barkeri survived significantly longer period when fed exclusively on T. urticae than when fed only on N. californicus/A. swirskii larvae/a mixed diet of T. urticae with phytoseiid larvae (F6,161 = 226.45, P = 0.000) (Table 2).

Table 2 Mean (± SE) pre-oviposition, oviposition periods and longevity, mean number (± SE) of total and daily eggs laid per female, total and daily number (± SE) of prey consumed per female for Neoseiulus barkeri fed solely on Tetranychus urticae (T.u.) or larval Neoseiulus californicus (N.c.), Amblyseius swirskii (A.S.) or on a combination of T. urticae, and larval phytoseiid
Full size table

When N. barkeri was fed solely on N. californicus/A. swirskii larvae, females laid statistically similar total eggs production, while on T. urticae solely showed a higher fecundity than on both IG-prey or on a mixture of T. urticae and phytoseiid larvae (F6,161 = 1529.19, P = 0.000) (Table 2).

When N. barkeri fed solely on EG-prey/IG-prey/combined prey, a significant difference was observed in its predation rate (F6,161 = 7782.66, 1512.10, P = 0.000). Neoseiulus barkeri consumed more in total and daily number of T. urticae than those fed on a mixed diet (Table 2). The mean total number of A. swirskii larvae eaten by N. barkeri was statistically higher than that of N. californicus. Providing of T. urticae significantly decreased the predation of IG-prey (Table 2). Neoseiulus barkeri consumed up to 1.85 and 1.48 T. urticae for every 1 A. swirskii while that ratio was 0.96 ad 0.90 T. urticae for every 1 N. californicus when fed on both prey sources (Table 2).

Females of N. barkeri fed daily on similar amount of both IG-prey A. swirskii and N. californicus. When T. urticae was combined with IG-prey, females of N. barkerii fed on both prey with preference to T. urticae than IG-prey A. swirskii also to IG-prey N. californicus than T. urticae. IG-prey might comprise a less nutritive food for the IG-predator, especially in its oviposition period (Walzer and Schausberger 1999). Also, the daily number of IG-prey consumed by N. barkeri was lower (nearly half) than that of prey offered, suggesting that IG-predator response was affected by food quality (Ahmad et al. 2015). The total egg production of N. barkeri on both IG-prey was similar and relatively higher than those fed IG-prey combined with EG-prey. Walzer and Schausberger (1999), Hatherly et al. (2005), Momen and Abdel-Khalek (2009b), and Farazmand et al. (2015) indicated that predatory phytoseiids receive more nutritional benefits from phytoseiid larvae in the absence of their main prey (EG-prey). Prey conversion rate was low for N. barkeri considering N. californicus as IG-prey to A. swirskii. According to Ahmad et al. (2015), that parameter could be a sign of the ability for population persistence when prey is moving back.

Performance of Amblyseius swirskii (IG-predator) on Neoseiulus californicus/N. barkeri (IG-prey) and Tetranychus urticae (EG-prey)

Amblyseius swirskii females survived significantly longer time when fed on a mixed diet of T. urticae with N. barkeri/N. californicus (10 T.u + 10 N. barkeri, 10 T.u + 10 N. californicus, 20 T. u + 20 N. californicus), than those fed solely on IG-prey/EG-prey/(20 T. u + 20 N. barkeri) (F6,161 = 18.03, P = 0.0001). Females of A. swirskii fed solely on T. urticae/N. californicus gave a higher fecundity and daily number of eggs than on N. barkeri/on a mixture of T. urticae and phytoseiid larvae (F6,161 = 570.77, 452.90, P = 0.0001) (Table 3).

Table 3 Mean (± SE) pre-oviposition, oviposition periods and longevity, mean number (± SE) of total and daily eggs laid per female, total and daily number (± SE) of prey consumed per female for Amblyseius swirskii fed solely on Tetranychus urticae (T.u.) or larval Neoseiulus barkeri (N.b.), Neoseiulus californicus (N.c.), or on a combination of T. urticae and larval phytoseiid
Full size table

When A. swirskii fed solely on T. urticae/combined prey, a significant difference was observed in its predation rate (F6,161 = 3799.15, P = 0.000). When A. swirskii fed solely on IG-prey, the total and daily rate of predation were significantly higher on N. californicus (Table 3). Amblyseius swirskii consumed more T. urticae in total than those fed on a mixed diet. Providing of T. urticae significantly decreased the predation of IG-prey (Table 3). Amblyseius swirskii consumed significantly a higher number of IG-prey N. barkeri/N. californicus than when mixed with T. urticae (case of 20 T. urticae + 20 IG-prey) than in (case of 10 T. urticae + 10 IG-prey). Amblyseius swirskii consumed up to 1.62, 1.79, and 1.41, 1.73 T. urticae for every 1 N. barkeri and N. californicus when fed on both prey sources.

Interesting results presently in the fecundity of A. swirskii fed exclusively IG-prey N. californicus was similar to those fed EG-prey T. urticae. IG-prey might be an equally good or better food source than the EG-prey (thrips) for both A. swirskii and N. cucumeris (Oudemans) (Buitenhuis et al. 2010). In their studies, Guo et al. (2016) indicated that IG-prey A. orientalis (Ehara) appeared to be better food source for the development of A. swirskii than EG-prey Bemisia tabaci Gennadius. They added that A. swirskii appears to be a less suitable prey for A. orientalis. In the contrary, Polis et al. (1989) demonstrated that the quality of IG-prey is often lower than the quality of EG-prey. Momen and El-Borolossy (2010) showed that A. swirskii was able to feed and develop on both IG-prey C. negevi and Phytoseius finitimus Ribaga, whereas the latter species failed to develop on other both IG-prey. Research has been done by Pratt et al. (2002) and also Xu and Enkegard (2010) indicated that some factors are responsible for the preference of predatory mites, such as plant architecture, prey stage preference, and interaction between the pest and the predator.

Conclusion

Base on this study, A. swirskii seems to be a stronger IG predator than both other species because it consumed more larvae of N. barkeri and N. californicus and also, laid more eggs on both IG prey. According to this study, A. swirskii, N. barkeri, and N. californicus are IG predators on each other even when T. urticae is present. The results of this study showed that IGP among these 3 phytoseiids is not unidirectional. Potential IG-interaction among these predatory mites may strongly influence the predator efficiency in T. urticae control. Information about the strength and direction of IGP among these predators can be helpful for choosing the best strategy of multiple releases to improve the control of T. urticae.