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Predation of diaspidid scale insects on kiwifruit vines by European earwigs, Forficula auricularia, and steel-blue ladybirds, Halmus chalybeus

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Abstract

Significant predation of diaspidid scale insects occurs in unsprayed kiwifruit crops. Two predators, Forficula auricularia L. (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) and Halmus chalybeus (Boisduval) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) are likely to be important. Most F. auricularia were found as late instars or adults in the canopy of kiwifruit vines in late spring and early summer. Adults of H. chalybeus were present throughout the year but at lower densities on kiwifruit vines than on other host plants. In the field predation of scale insects occurred mainly at night and preferentially on late-instar scale insects consistent with the feeding behaviour of F. auricularia, not H.chalybeus. The latter mainly fed on early instar insects during the day. Numbers of scale insect crawlers were not correlated with numbers of F. auricularia or of H. chalybeus in kiwifruit vine canopies.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for this study was provided by the New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology programme C06X0301 Insecticide Risk Reduction. We thank Patrick Connolly for statistical advice and modelling, Nicola Mauchline, Aleise Puketapu and Jo Stirling for technical assistance, and Garry Hill and Cathy McKenna and two anonymous reviewers for improving the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Private Bag 92169, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand

    David P. Logan

  2. The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, 412 No. 1 Road, RD2, Te Puke, 3182, New Zealand

    Bridget J. Maher & Christina A. Rowe

Authors
  1. David P. Logan
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  2. Bridget J. Maher
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  3. Christina A. Rowe
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Correspondence to David P. Logan.

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Handling Editor: Marta Montserrat.

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Logan, D.P., Maher, B.J. & Rowe, C.A. Predation of diaspidid scale insects on kiwifruit vines by European earwigs, Forficula auricularia, and steel-blue ladybirds, Halmus chalybeus . BioControl 62, 469–479 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-017-9797-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-017-9797-9

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