title: Competition among species of stored-product psocids (Psocoptera) in stored grain.
abstract: We evaluated the competition among stored-product psocid species by conducting two series of laboratory experiments. In the first series, three species of Liposcelididae were used: Liposcelis bostrychophila, Liposcelis decolor, and Liposcelis paeta. Five adult females of these species were placed in vials containing wheat, either alone or in all possible combinations of two species. The number of adults in the vials was counted after 35, 70, 105, 140, and 175 days. These tests were performed at 25 and 30°C. At 25°C, there were no differences in numbers of L. bostrychophila when this species was reared either alone or with each of the other two species. At 30°C, L. bostrychophila was the dominant species. The presence of L. bostrychophila had a negative effect on the growth of populations of L. decolor and L. paeta. The presence of L. paeta did not affect growth of populations of L. decolor, although the presence of L. decolor occasionally reduced growth of populations of L. paeta. In the second series of tests, L. bostrychophila adult females were placed in vials of wheat either alone or with adult females of Lepinotus reticulatus, at the ratios of (L. bostrychophila: L. reticulatus) 10∶0, 9∶1, 7∶3, 5∶5, 3∶7, 1∶9, and 0∶10. These tests were carried out only at 30°C, and the observation periods were the same as for the first series of tests. Liposcelis bostrychophila was the dominant species in this case as well, regardless of the ratio of the parental females. At the end of the experimental period, L. reticulatus was present only in vials that contained this species alone. Our results showed that L. bostrychophila outcompetes the other stored-product psocid species tested.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Development, University of Thessaly, Nea Ionia Magnissia, Greece; USDA-ARS, Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, Manhattan, Kansas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Christos G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Athanassiou
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, Kifissia, Attica, Greece; USDA-ARS, Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, Manhattan, Kansas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Nickolas G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Kavallieratos
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS, Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, Manhattan, Kansas, United States of America; USDA-ARS, San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center, Parlier, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Throne
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biometry, Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Development, University of Thessaly, Nea Ionia Magnissia, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Nakas
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D007313:Insecta / Q000254:growth & development*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D013045:Species Specificity; D013696:Temperature
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