Predation and avoidance behaviour in aphid‐ladybird interactions of native and invasive ladybirds in Europe. (2nd September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bertleff, Denise; Diekmann, Jette; Brand, Sophia; Ünlü, Ayse Gül; Bucher, Roman
• Is Part Of: Ecological entomology. Volume 46:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 41
• Page End: 47
• Publication Date: 2020-09-02
• Subjects: Harmonia axyridis -- Acyrthosiphon pisum -- naiveté hypothesis -- prey naiveté -- predator–prey interactions -- invasive species -- cue avoidance; Insects -- Ecology -- Periodicals; Entomology -- Periodicals; 595.7
• DOI: 10.1111/een.12938
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0307-6946

Abstract

Abstract : While detrimental effects of invasive predators on native species are well documented, we often lack a mechanistic understanding of the invasion success. Lack of prey avoidance behaviour can lead to higher consumption rates by invasive predators compared to native predators. This competitive advantage is expected to contribute to the invasion success of non‐native predators. We compared aphid consumption and cue avoidance behaviour of aphids between four native ladybird species ( Coccinella septempunctata, Adalia bipunctata, Propylea quatuordecimpunctata, and Hippodamia variegata ) and the invasive Asian ladybird Harmonia axyridis . The invasive H. axyridis and the native C. septempunctata consumed more aphids than the three smaller native ladybird species. In line with our expectations, aphids avoided leaves bearing cues of most native ladybird species but not of the invasive H. axyridis . Our results indicate that body size rather than ladybird origin determined aphid predation rates. The lack of aphid avoidance behaviour towards cues of H. axyridis indicates that they were not able to recognise the chemical cues of the invasive predator. Relatively large body size and the absence of cue avoidance in aphids might benefit the invasive H. axyridis, particularly in comparison to smaller native ladybird species. The absence of avoidance behaviour in aphids might lead to even higher predation rates of H. axyridis under more natural conditions. Abstract : The invasive Harmonia axyridis and the native Coccinella septempunctata consumed more aphids than other ladybird species tested, due to their large body size. Aphids ( Acyrthosiphon pisum ) avoided cues of most native ladybird species tested, but not of the invasive H. axyridis . Both, the fact that aphids do not avoid H. axyridis cues, as well as body size related competitive advantages of H. axyridis over native ladybirds likely facilitated its invasion success in Europe.