Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Functional response of Harmonia dimidiata (fab.) to melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover under laboratory conditions

  • Published:
Phytoparasitica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Functional response of Harmonia dimidiata (Fab.) to melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover was studied in the laboratory at 25 ± 0.5 °C, 70 ± 5% RH and 12L:12D photoperiod. All the predator stages exhibited Type II functional response to the aphid. Based on Rogers’s random predator equation the predator’s attack rate was lowest (0.128) in the first-instar and highest (0.21) in the adult stage. Handling times of the adult beetle and the fourth-instar (0.148 and 0.164 h, respectively) were much shorter than other stages. The maximum number of aphids that could be consumed over a period of 24 h by first, second, third and fourth instar; and adult of H. dimidiata was estimated to be 47.2, 80.2, 79.7, 146.2 and 161.7 aphids/ predator. Functional response parameters indicate that the adult beetles and the fourth-instar were the most voracious stages and could be important for the biological control of the aphid.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agarwala, B. K., Singh, T. K., Lokeshwari, R. K., & Sharmila, M. (2009). Functional response and reproductive attributes of the aphidophagous ladybird beetle, Harmonia dimidiata (Fabricius) in oak trees of sericultural importance. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology, 12, 179–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atlihan, R., Kaydan, M. B., Yarimbatman, A., & Okut, H. (2010). Functional response of the coccinellid predator Adalia fasciatopunctata Revelierei to walnut aphid Callaphis juglandis. Phytoparasitica, 38, 23–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balikai, R. A. (2004). Chemical control of sugarcane leaf aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner) on rabi sorghum. Agricultural Science Digest, 24, 142–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayoumy, M. H. (2011). Foraging behavior of the coccinellid Nephus includes (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in response to Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) with particular emphasis on larval parasitism. Environmental Entomology, 40, 835–843.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bayoumy, M. H., & Michaud, J. P. (2012). Parasitism interacts with mutual interference to limit foraging efficiency in larvae of Nephus includes (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Biological Control, 62, 120–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang, Y. M., Hsiao, C. H., Yang, W. Z., Hseu, S. H., Chao, Y. J., & Huang, C. H. (1987). The occurrence and distribution of five cucurbit viruses on melon and water melon in Taiwan. Journal of Agricultural Research China, 36, 389–397.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa, J. F., Matos C. H. C., de Oliveira, C. R. F., da Silva, T. G. F., Lima Neto, I. F. A. (2017). Functional and numerical responses of Stethorus tridens Gordon (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) preying on Tetranychus bastosi Tuttle, Baker & Sales (Acari: Tetranychidae) on physic nut (Jatropha curcas). Biological Control, 111, 1–5.

  • Denholm, I., & Devine, G. (2013). Insecticide resistance. Encyclopedia of biodiversity (second edition), 298-307.

  • Dixon, A. F. G. (2000). Insect predator–prey dynamics: Ladybird beetles and biological control. London: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Escriu, F., Perry, K. L., & Garcia-Arenal, F. (2000). Transmissibility of cucumber mosaic virus by Aphis gossypii correlates with viral accumulation. Virology, 90, 1069–1072.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farhadi, R., Allahyari, H., & Juliano, S. A. (2010). Functional response of larval and adult stages of Hippodamiavariegata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) to different densities of Aphis fabae (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Environmental Entomology, 39, 1586–1592.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández-Arhex, V., & Corley, J. C. (2003). The functional response of parasitoids and its implications for biological control. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 13, 403–413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gildow, F. E., Shah, D. A., Sacket, W. M., Butzler, T., Nault, B. A., & Fleischer, S. J. (2008). Transmission efficiency of cucumber mosaic virus by aphids associated with virus epidemics in snap bean. Virology, 98, 1233–1241.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Godfrey, L. D. & Keillor, K. (1999). Management of key cotton arthropod pests with insecticides and acaricides. Agricultural Research Projects-Summary Reports. Cotton Incorporated, Cary, 34–35.

  • Hardee, D. D., & Herzog, G. A. (1992). 45th Annual conference reports on cotton insect research and control. In Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf, Nat. Cotton Council of Amer., Memphis, TN, pp. 626–644.

  • Hassell, M. P. (2000). The spatial and temporal dynamics of host parasitoid interactions. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodek, I., & Honek, A. (1996). Ecology of Coccinellidae (p. 464). Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Holling, C. S. (1959). Some characteristics of simple types of predation and parasitism. The Canadian Entomologist, 91, 385–398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jafari, R., & Goldasteh, S. (2009). Functional response of Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Coleotera: Coccinellidae) on Aphis fabae (Scopoli) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in laboratory conditions. Acta Entomologea Serbia, 14, 93–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Juliano, S. A. (2001). Non-linear curve fitting: Predation and functional response curves. In S. M. Scheiner & J. Gurevitch (Eds.), Design and analysis of ecological experiments (2nd ed., pp. 178–196). New York: Chapman and Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kareiva, P. (1990). The spatial dimension in pest-enemy interaction. In M. Mackauer, L. E. Ehler, & J. Roland (Eds.), Critical Issues in Biological Control (pp. 213–227). Hants: Intercept. Anover.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan, J., Haq, E., & Rehman, A. (2015). Effect of temperature on the biology of Harmonia dimidiate fab. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) reared on Scizaphus graminum (Rond.) aphid. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences, 7, 42–49.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, B., Mishra, G., & Omkar. (2014). Functional response and predatory interactions in conspecific and heterospecific combinations of two congeneric species (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). European Journal of Entomology, 111, 257–265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuznetsov, V. N., & Pang, H. (2002). Employment of Chinese Coccinellidae in biological control of aphids in greenhouse in Primorye. Far East Entomology, 119, 1–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laznik, Z., Znidarcic, D., & Trdan, S. (2011). Control of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) adults on glasshouse-grown cucumbers in four different growth substrates: An efficacy comparison of foliar application of Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev) and spraying with Thiamethoxam. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 35, 631–640.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, J. H., & Kang, T. J. (2004). Functional response of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) to Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera: Aphididae) in the laboratory. Biological Control, 31, 306–310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mhaske, B. M., Pardesh, S. R., Bhoite, K. D., & Rasal, P. N. (2007). Biosafety of coccinellid predators and chemical control of wheat aphids. Agricultural Science Digest, 27, 264–266.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Misra, H. P. (2013). Newer insecticides for the management of aphid, Aphis gossypii Glov in gherkins (Cucumis anguria L.) and their effect on the predator, Coccinella septempunctata L. Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems, 19, 123–127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mou, D. F., Lee, C. C., Smith, C. L., & Chi, H. (2015). Using viable eggs to accurately determine the demographic and predation potential of Harmonia dimidiata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Journal of Applied Entomology, 139, 579–591.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mrosso, F., Mwatawala, M. & Rwegasira, G. (2013). Functional response of Cheilomenes propingua, C. lunata and C. sulphurea (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) to predation on Aphis gossypii (Homoptera: Aphididae) in eastern Tanzania. Journal of Entomology, doi:10.2923/je.2013.

  • Murdoch, W. W. (1969). Switching in general predators: Experiments on predator specificity and stability of prey populations. Ecological Monographs, 39, 335–364.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murdoch, W. W. (1983). The functional response of predators. Journal of Applied Ecology, 10, 335–342.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murdoch, W. W., & Oaten, A. (1975). Predation and population stability. Advances in Ecological Research, 9, 1–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Neil, R. J. (1997). Functional response and search strategy of Podisus maculiventris (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) attacking Colorado potato beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Environmental Entomology, 26, 1183–1190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Omkar, & Kumar, G. (2013). Responses of an aphidophagous ladybird beetle, Anegleis cardoni, to varying densities of Aphis gossypii. Journal of Insect Science, 13, 24. doi:10.1673/031.013.2401.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Parajulee, M. N., Shrestha, R. B., Leser, J. F., Wester, D. B., & Blanco, C. A. (2006). Evaluation of the functional response of selected arthropod predators on bollworm eggs in the laboratory and effect of temperature on their predation efficiency. Environmental Entomology, 35, 379–386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pervez, A., & Omkar. (2005). Functional responses of coccinellid predators: An illustration of a logistic approach. Journal of Insect Science, 5, 1–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinto, Z. V., Rezende, J. A. M., Valdir, A., Yuki, V. A., & Piedade, S. M. S. (2008). Ability of Aphis gossypii and Myzus persicae to transmit cucumber mosaic virus in single and mixed infection with two Poty viruses to zucchini squash summa. Phytopathological Botucatu, 34, 183–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson, W. H., Johnson, D. R., Lorenz Iii, G. M., Smith, P. R., Greene, J. C., Capps, D. P., & Edmund, R. (2004). Efficacy of selected insecticides for control of aphids, Aphis gossypii (Glover). In Arkansas (pp. 1779–1781). National Cotton Council of America: In Proceedings of Beltwide Cotton Conferences. Memphis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, D. (1972). Random search and insect population models. Journal of Animal Ecology, 41, 369–383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rummel, D. R., Amold, M. D., Slosser, J. E., Neece, K. C., & Pinchak, W. E. (1995). Cultural factors influencing the abundance of Aphis gossypii Glover in Texas High Plains cotton. South western Entomology, 20, 396–406.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saleh, A., Ghabeish, I., Al-Zyoud, F., Ateyyat, M., & Swais, M. (2010). Functional response of the predator Hippodamia variegate (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) feeding on the aphid Brachycaudus helichrysi (Kaltenbach) infesting chrysanthemum in the laboratory. Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences, 3, 17–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saljoqi, A. R., Nasir, M., Khan, J., Haq, E., Salim, M., Nadeem, M., Huma, Z., Saeed, H. G., Ahmad, B., Zada, H., & Rehman, S. (2015). Functional response study of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) fed on cotton mealy bug, Phenacoccus Solenopsis Tinsley under laboratory conditions. Journal of Entomological and Zoological Studies, 3, 411–415.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanjeev, K., Patel, N. B., Saravaiya, S. N., & Desai, K. D. (2015). Economic viability of cucumber cultivation under NVPH. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 10, 742–747.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarwar, M. K., Azam, I., Iram, N., Iqbal, W., Rashda, A., Anwer, F., Atta, K., & Ali, R. (2014). Cotton aphid Aphis gossypii L. (Homoptera; Aphididae); a challenging pest; biology and control strategies: A review. International Journal of Applied Biology and Pharmacological Technology, 5, 288–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • SAS. (2007). SAS/statistics software. Hangen and Enhanced. Cary: SAS Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shah, M. A., & Khan, A. A. (2013). Functional response- a function of predator and prey species. The Bioscan, 8, 751–758.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shah, M. A., & Khan, A. A. (2014). Qualitative and quantitative prey requirements of two aphidophagous coccinellids, Adalia tetraspilota and Hippodamia variegata. Journal of Insect Science, 14, 1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharmila, M., Devikarani, K., & Singh, T. K. (2010). Seasonal incidence and predatory potential of Harmonia dimidiata (fab.) in relation to Tuberculatum nervatus Chakrabarti and Raychaudhuri. Annals of Plant Protection Science, 18, 340–343.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh, G., Singh, N. P., & Singh, R. (2014). Food plants of a major agricultural pest, Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera: Aphididae) from India: An updated checklist. International Journal of Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Pharmacological Research, 3, 1–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slosser, J. E., Parajulee, M. N., Idol, G. B., & Rummel, D. R. (2001). Cotton aphid response to irrigation and crop chemicals. Southwestern Entomology, 26, 1–13.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Srinivasulu, M., Sarovar, B., Anthony Jhonson, A. M., & Sai Gopal, D. V. R. (2010). Association of Poty virus with mosaic virus disease of gherkin (Cucumis anguira L.) in India. Indian Journal of Microbiology, 50, 221–224.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Tazerouni, Z., Talebi, A. A., Fathipour, Y., & Soufbaf, M. (2016). Bottom-up effect of two host plants on life table parameters of Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 18, 179–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomquelski, G. V., Martins, G. L. M., & Papa, G. (2007). Efeitos dos indutores de resistênciaacibenzolar-s-metilesilícionabiologia de Alabama argilacea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) emalgodoeiro. Rev de Agric, 82, 170–175.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trdan, S., Znidarcic, D., & Vidrih, M. (2007). Control of Frankliniella occidentalis on greenhouse-grown cucumbers: An efficacy comparison of foliar application of Steinernema feltiae and spraying with abamectin. Russian Journal of Nematology, 15, 25–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uszko, W., Diehl, S., Pitsch, N., Lengfellner, K., & Müller, T. (2016). When is a type III functional response stabilizing? Theory and practice of predicting plankton dynamics under enrichment. figshare. Ecology. doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3308163.v1.

  • Xue, Y., Bahlai, C. A., Frewin, A., Sears, M. K., Schaafsma, A. W., & Hallett, R. H. (2009). Predation by Coccinella septempunctata and Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on Aphis glycines (Homoptera: Aphididae). Environmental Entomology, 38, 708–714.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yu, J. Z., Chi, H., & Chen, B. H. (2013). Comparison of the life tables and predation rates of Harmonia dimidiata (F.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) fed on Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) at different temperatures. Biological Control, 64, 1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zarghami, S., Mossadegh, S. M., Kocheili, F., Allahyari, H. & Rasekh, A. (2016). Functional responses of Nephus arcuatus Kapur (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), the most important predator of spherical mealybug Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead). Psyche, doi:10.1155/2016/9417496.

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Professor and Head, Department of Entomology, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) India for providing necessary facilities and Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India for providing funds through All India Coordinated Research Project on Biological Control of Crop Pests and weeds.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, HP, 173230, India

    P. L. Sharma & S. C. Verma

  2. Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, HP, 173230, India

    R. S. Chandel

  3. Central Potato Research Station, Jalandhar, Punjab, 144003, India

    M. A. Shah

  4. Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560 089, India

    O. Gavkare

Authors
  1. P. L. Sharma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. C. Verma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. S. Chandel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. A. Shah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. O. Gavkare
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. L. Sharma.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest among the authors.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sharma, P.L., Verma, S.C., Chandel, R.S. et al. Functional response of Harmonia dimidiata (fab.) to melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover under laboratory conditions. Phytoparasitica 45, 373–379 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-017-0599-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-017-0599-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation