Abstract
Laboratory experiments on the role of humidity, density and species of prey were conducted in order to better understand the ecology of Teretriosoma nigrescens Lewis (Coleoptera: Histeridae), a predator introduced into West Africa to control the larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus. Developmental time of T. nigrescens was very similar among individuals exposed to 30,40, 70 and 90% relative humidity at 30°C, although survivorship varied. At optimal temperature and humidity larvae fed only first-instar Sitophilus zeamais as prey took longer to develop and weighed less at emergence, than those raised on first-instar P. truncatus. Larvae feeding on Tribolium castaneum took longer to develop with only 10% surviving to the adult stage. None of the larvae offered Gnatocerus maxillosus as prey survived. In an analysis of prey consumption rates, no T. nigrescens larvae survived on one P. truncatus first-instar larva per day; 50% survived on two per day, and almost 90% survived on five larvae per day. In an analysis of density effects on T. nigrescens reproduction and survivorship, there was no difference in the number of F1 offspring at T. nigrescens:P. truncatus ratios of 15:300,30:300,60:300 or 90:300, suggesting that the lowest predator: prey production ratio was the most efficient one.
Résumé
Les expériences au laboratoire sur le rôle de l’humidité relative, de la densité et des espèces de proies ont été menées pour mieux comprendre l’écologie de Teretriosoma nigrescens (Coleoptera: Histeridae), un prédateur introduit en Afrique de l’ouest pour combattre le grand capucin du maïs, Prostephanus truncatus. Malgré les variations du taux de survie, la durée de développement de T. nigrescens est pratiquement la même pour les individus exposés à 30,40,70, et 90% d’humidité relative à 30°C. Dans les conditions optimales de température et d’humidité, les larves nourries seulement de larves de Sitophilus zeamais comme proies ont eu un développement plus long et ont pesé moins que celles élevées sur des larves de P. truncatus. Les larves nourries de Tribolium castaneum ont pris plus de temps pour se développer avec 10% seulement d’insectes émergés. Aucune des larves nourries de Gnatocerus sp. n’a survécu. Dans une analyse du taux de consommation de proies, aucune larve n’a survécu avec une larve de P. truncatus comme proie par jour, 50% ont survécu avec 2 larves par jour et presque 90% avec 5 larves par jour. Dans une analyse des effets de la densité sur la reproduction et la survie de T. nigrescens, aucune différence n’a été trouvée à propos du nombre de descendants F1 pour les ratios T. nigrescens:P. truncatus de 15:300,30:300,60:300 ou 90:300. Toutefois le traitement à faible densité paraît être le ratio de production le plus efficace.
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Oussou, R.D., Meikle, W.G. & Markham, R.H. Factors Affecting Larval Survivorship and Development Rate of Teretriosoma nigrescens Lewis. Int J Trop Insect Sci 18, 53–58 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400007463
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400007463
Key Words
- biological control
- predator: prey ratio
- Prostephanus truncatus
- Sitophilus zeamais
- Teretriosoma nigrescens