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Effect of size, extraguild prey and habitat complexity on intraguild interactions: a case study with the invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis and the hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus

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Abstract

Intraguild predation (IGP) is a widespread interaction between predatory arthropods, and is influenced by several factors. The harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), has frequently been reported as an intraguild predator of other Coccinellidae, but little is known about its interactions with other aphidophagous predators, including syrphids. This study investigated the incidence of IGP between H. axyridis and Episyrphus balteatus (Diptera: Syrphidae), the most abundant hoverfly species in Europe and a commercially available aphid biocontrol agent. The influence of size, presence of extraguild prey and habitat complexity were investigated through laboratory experiments in Petri dishes and on potted broad bean plants. In both types of arenas, IGP between H. axyridis and E. balteatus was found to be asymmetric, with the coccinellid in the majority of cases being the intraguild predator. There was a significant effect of size on the frequency of IGP. The efficiency of H. axyridis as an intraguild predator increased with the developmental stage. Early instars of E. balteatus were the most vulnerable to IGP. Pupae of either species were not attacked. In the presence of extraguild prey, the frequency of IGP was substantially reduced. However, IGP still occurred, mainly in combinations of older larvae of H. axyridis with first or second instars of E. balteatus. The size of the arena affected the incidence of IGP in combinations with second instars of E. balteatus, but not in combinations with third instars. Field research is needed to elucidate the ecological relevance of IGP among these predators.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from the Research Foundation—Flanders (FWO Vlaanderen) to Brecht Ingels. We are grateful to Nick Berkvens and Dirk Berkvens for their help with the statistical analyses. We also thank two anonymous reviewers and the associate editor for their helpful comments and suggestions, which greatly improved this manuscript.

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  1. Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Brecht Ingels & Patrick De Clercq

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  1. Brecht Ingels
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  2. Patrick De Clercq
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Correspondence to Brecht Ingels.

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Handling Editor: Arne Janssen

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Ingels, B., De Clercq, P. Effect of size, extraguild prey and habitat complexity on intraguild interactions: a case study with the invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis and the hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus . BioControl 56, 871–882 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-011-9363-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-011-9363-9

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