We examined the effect of prey (Tetranychus urticae) egg density on leaving rate of the predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis, from leaf disks using predators with different feeding experiences and levels of external volatile cues related to their prey. Predators stayed longer on disks with prey eggs than on those without prey eggs. However, at each prey egg density predators stayed longer in the absence of prey-related volatiles from an external source. Starved predators stayed longer in a prey patch than those that had not experienced starvation. At each prey density, starved P. persimilis consumed a greater proportion of prey eggs than satiated predators. The total prey consumption of starved predators appears to be related to their longer residence time on source disks compared to satiated predators and also the per capita consumption rate was greater for starved predators compared to satiated predators.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank Xiaoli Wu and Nick Timmons for their assistance in conducting the research, and Anthony Joerns for comments on an earlier draft of this paper. This is Contribution No. 06-267-J from the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station.
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Nachappa, P., Margolies, D.C. & Nechols, J.R. Resource-Dependent Giving-Up Time of the Predatory Mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis . J Insect Behav 19, 741–752 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-006-9059-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-006-9059-7