Resource quality, resource availability, and intraguild predation among omnivorous mirids

Abstract

Abstract Intraguild predation (IGP) among predatory species can influence many plant-arthropod associations. However, the relevance of IGP is poorly understood for truly omnivorous species such as those that can complete development on both animal and plant diets. Here we test the hypothesis that IGP among two omnivorous mirids is more common when extraguild food is either absent or not suitable. Laboratory experiments were performed in experimental cages in order to determine the effect of intraguild prey densities and diet availability on direction and intensity of IGP between Dicyphus tamaninii and Macrolophus caliginosus (Heteroptera: Miridae). Intraguild predation was symmetrical between the two mirid species in the absence of alternative food. Increasing densities of intraguild prey enhanced drastically the incidence of IGP. Intraguild predation was reduced when mirids were in the presence of green or red tomato fruits, but the presence of any other extraguild resources had no impact on IGP level. However, when given before the experiments, all resources with the exception of tomato leaves significantly reduced IGP. A second experiment was performed on live plants to compare the results of the previous trials with that obtained in a more natural setting. No IGP was observed when both mirid species were present on a plant. However, development of the intraguild prey (the more vulnerable stage) was hindered by the presence of the intraguild predator. The potential of such results is discussed from community ecology and biological control perspective. Keywords: intraguild predationomnivoryzoophytophagyextraguild resource qualityHeteropteraMiridae Acknowledgements We thank J. Brodeur, R. Albajes, R. Gabarra, and J. Iriarte for helpful suggestions, and M.P. Hernández, V. Muñoz, and M. Montero for technical assistance. We are also grateful to T. Work for grammatical help. This research was supported by INIA (SC96-027), MEC (AGL2006-08276), and post-doc scholarships from the 'Comissionat per a Universitats i Recerca of the Generalitat de Catalunya' and from the 'Fonds pour la Formation de Chercheurs et l'Aide à la Recherche du Québec' to É. Lucas.