Abstract
We tested the hypothesis that Lima bean Phaseolus lunatus L. (Henderson cultivar) trichome density affects the survival of the acariphagous lady beetle Stethorus punctillum Weise. When isolated throughout larval development, 10% or less of S. punctillum larvae reared on two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch on small (rather than large) P. lunatus leaves survived until pupation. Although other factors might have contributed to larval mortality, we demonstrated that survival rate was related to trichome density (i.e., number of hooked trichomes per cm on the underside of leaves). Trichome density was greatest on the underside of small leaves and least on large leaves, indicating that survival rate increased as trichome density decreased. Hooked trichomes impaled S. punctillum larvae more often at the apex of the abdomen than at any other body part. Hooked trichomes also trapped S. punctillum adults, but they always managed to free themselves. This study highlights the negative effect of Lima bean hooked trichomes on a predacious lady beetle that attacks the two-spotted spider mite.
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Acknowledgments
J. Morales and G. Rojas supplied two-spotted spider mite-infested Lima bean leaves for some of our experiments. Alvin Simmons, Ana I. Legrand, and David J. Biddinger commented on an earlier version of this manuscript. The remarks of three anonymous peer reviewers helped to improve the text. The United States Government has the right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty-free license in and to any copyright of this article. This article reports the results of research only. Mention of a commercial or proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement of the product by the United States Department of Agriculture.
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Riddick, E.W., Wu, Z. Lima bean–lady beetle interactions: hooked trichomes affect survival of Stethorus punctillum larvae. BioControl 56, 55–63 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-010-9309-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-010-9309-7