Phytophagy of omnivorous predator Macrolophus pygmaeus affects performance of herbivores through induced plant defences.

ABSTRACT: Plants possess various inducible defences that result in synthesis of specialized metabolites in response to herbivory, which can interfere with the performance of herbivores of the same and other species. Much less is known of the effects of plant feeding by omnivores. We found that previous feeding of the omnivorous predator Macrolophus pygmaeus on sweet pepper plants significantly reduced reproduction of the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae and western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis on the same plants, also on leaves that had not been exposed to the omnivore. In contrast, no effect was found on the reproduction of the green peach aphid Myzus persicae. Juvenile survival and developmental time of T. urticae and M. persicae, and larval survival of F. occidentalis were

SUBMITTER: Zhang NX 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5756286 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature