title: Intraguild predation of Geocoris punctipes on Eretmocerus eremicus and its influence on the control of the whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Geocoris punctipes (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) and Eretmocerus eremicus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) are whitefly natural enemies. Previously, under laboratory conditions, we showed that G. punctipes engages in intraguild predation (IGP), the attack of one natural enemy by another, on E. eremicus. However, it is unknown whether this IGP interaction takes place under more complex scenarios, such as semi-field conditions. Even more importantly, the effect of this interaction on the density of the prey population requires investigation. Therefore, the present study aimed to establish whether this IGP takes place under semi-field conditions and to determine whether the predation rate of G. punctipes on the whitefly decreases when IGP takes place.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Molecular analysis showed that, under semi-field conditions, G. punctipes performed IGP on E. eremicus. However, although IGP did take place, the predation rate by G. punctipes on the whitefly was nevertheless higher when both natural enemies were present together than when the predator was present alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While IGP of G. punctipes on E. eremicus does occur under semi-field conditions, it does not adversely affect whitefly control. The concomitant use of these two natural enemies seems a valid option for inundative biological control programmes of T. vaporariorum in tomato. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Producción Agrícola, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico.
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bao-Fundora
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Producción Agrícola, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramirez-Romero
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Producción Agrícola, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico.
authors.forename: Carla V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Hernández
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Producción Agrícola, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Martínez
authors.affiliation: French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Univ. Nice Sophia Antipolis, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Sophia-Antipolis, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Desneux
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D020387:Food Chain; D006430:Hemiptera; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D011157:Population Dynamics
keywords: Aleyrodidae; Aphelinidae; Lygaeidae; intraguild predation