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Single versus multiple enemies and the impact on biological control of spider mites in cassava fields in West-Africa

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Abstract

To determine whether to use single or multiple predator species for biological pest control requires manipulative field experiments. We performed such tests in Benin (West Africa) in cassava fields infested by the cassava green mite Mononychellus tanajoa, and the cotton red mite Oligonychus gossypii. These fields also harboured the cassava apex-inhabiting predator Typhlodromalus aripo and either the leaf-inhabiting predator Amblydromalus manihoti or Euseius fustis. We manipulated predator species composition on individual plants to determine their effect on prey and predator densities. In fields with T. aripo plus A. manihoti, M. tanajoa densities were reduced by T. aripo alone or together with A. manihoti, but neither of these predators, alone or together, reduced O. gossypii densities. In fields with T. aripo plus E. fustis, T. aripo alone or together with E. fustis exerted significant control over O. gossypii, but weak control over M. tanajoa. Densities of any of the predator species were not affected by co-occurring predator species, suggesting a minor role for intraguild predation in the field, contrary to earlier experiments on small plants in the laboratory. We conclude that (1) T. aripo is the most effective predator species in suppressing M. tanajoa, (2) two predator species, T. aripo and E. fustis, are needed to suppress O. gossypii, and (3) predator species together on the same plant do not negatively affect each other nor the extent to which they control their prey. We argue that intraguild predation is reduced due to partial niche separation among predator species.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the assistance of Sam Korie in statistical analysis and of Dr Ignace Zannou in identifying phytoseiids specimens. We are very grateful to B. Bovis, H. Dossounon, R. Houndafotché and M. Adandé for their technical assistance, both in field and in the laboratory. We are honored by the full cooperation of farmers in the Department of Mono who allowed us to conduct the experiments in their cassava fields. Three anonymous reviewers provided valuable comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. This research was supported with funds provided to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). In addition, a postdoctoral fellowship was granted to A. Onzo, based on funds provided to the University of Amsterdam and IITA by the Netherlands Foundation for the Advancement of Tropical Research (WOTRO).

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  1. Rachid Hanna

    Present address: IITA, 1st, Main Road IRAD, Nkolbisson, B. P. 2008, Messa, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département des Sciences et Techniques de Production Végétale, Faculté d’Agronomie, Université de Parakou, B. P. 123, Parakou, Benin

    Alexis Onzo

  2. Biological Control Centre for Africa, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), 08 B. P. 0932, Cotonou, Benin

    Alexis Onzo & Rachid Hanna

  3. Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Alexis Onzo & Maurice W. Sabelis

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  1. Alexis Onzo
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Correspondence to Alexis Onzo.

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Onzo, A., Sabelis, M.W. & Hanna, R. Single versus multiple enemies and the impact on biological control of spider mites in cassava fields in West-Africa. Exp Appl Acarol 62, 293–311 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-013-9742-2

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