Predator performance is impaired by the presence of a second prey species.
The simultaneous infestation of a plant by several species of herbivores may affect the attractiveness of plants to the natural enemies of one of the herbivores. We studied the effect of coconut fruits infested by the pests Aceria guerreronis and Steneotarsonemus concavuscutum, which are generally found together under the coconut perianth. The predatory mite Neoseiulus baraki produced lower numbers of offspring on fruits infested with S. concavuscutum and on fruits infested with both prey than on fruits with A. guerreronis only. The predators were attracted by odours emanating from coconuts with A. guerreronis, but not by odours from coconuts with S. concavuscutum, even when A. guerreronis were present on the same fruit. Fewer N. baraki were recaptured on fruits with both prey or with S. concavuscutum than on fruits with only A. guerreronis. Furthermore, the quality of A. guerreronis from singly and multiply infested coconuts as food for N. baraki did not differ. Concluding, our results suggest that N. baraki does not perform well when S. concavuscutum is present on the coconuts, and the control of A. guerreronis by N. baraki may be negatively affected by the presence of S. concavuscutum.
Department of Agronomy - Entomology,Federal Rural University of Pernambuco,Av. Dom Manoel de Medeiros s/n,Dois Irmãos,52171-900 Recife, PE,Brazil.
D B
DB
Lima
Department of Agronomy - Entomology,Federal Rural University of Pernambuco,Av. Dom Manoel de Medeiros s/n,Dois Irmãos,52171-900 Recife, PE,Brazil.
H K V
HKV
Oliveira
Department of Fitotecnia,Federal University of Ceará,Fortaleza, CE,Brazil.
J W S
JWS
Melo
Department of Agronomy - Entomology,Federal Rural University of Pernambuco,Av. Dom Manoel de Medeiros s/n,Dois Irmãos,52171-900 Recife, PE,Brazil.
M G C
MGC
Gondim
Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics,University of Amsterdam,Science Park 904,1098 XH Amsterdam,The Netherlands.
M
M
Sabelis
Department of Entomology,Federal University of Viçosa,Campus Universitário, 36570-000,Viçosa, MG,Brazil.
A
A
Pallini
Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics,University of Amsterdam,Science Park 904,1098 XH Amsterdam,The Netherlands.
A
A
Janssen
D000818:Animals; D002633:Chemotaxis; D003059:Cocos / Q000254:growth & development; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D060434:Herbivory; D008925:Mites / Q000502:physiology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D011156:Population Density; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*
D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds

               Aceria guerreronis
            ; 
               Neoseiulus baraki
            ; 
               Steneotarsonemus concavuscutum
            ; Acari; multiple infestations; volatile