Predation by Orius sauteri (Poppius) (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) on Thrips palmi Karny (Thysanoptera: Thripidae): Functional response and selective predation

Abstract

Functional responses of different stages of Orius sauteri to densities of Thrips palmi were studied. Most stages of O. sauteri exhibited Holling's Type-II response. The number of T. palmi consumed by O. sauteri nymphs increased with the stage of O. sauteri, however late fifth stage O. sauteri nymphs consumed a much smaller number of T. palmi larvae than early fifth stage nymphs. O. sauteri adult females consumed a slightly smaller number of T. palmi larvae than early fifth stage nymphs. O. sauteri adult males consumed a smaller number of T. palmi larvae than adult females. O. sauteri nymphs killed more T. palmi larvae than T. palmi adults. However, there was no marked difference between the two stages of T. palmi killed by O. sauteri adult females. The number of T. palmi consumed by O. sauteri adult females increased with increasing temperature. Selective predation experiments on O. sauteri on different stages of T. palmi revealed that the preference for T. palmi adults and larvae changed with the development of O. sauteri.