Density-dependent mutual interference in Neoseiulus longispinosus Predating Tetranychus urticae on Tomato

Abstract

Predation serves as a significant role in ecosystems and the effectiveness of predator depends on its population and their intraspecific interaction which ultimately influence prey populations. Mutual interference is a intraspecific interaction among conspecific individuals that can negatively impact the foraging efficiency of certain predators. In present study, we have studied the effect of mutual interaction in Neoseiulus longispinosus while feeding on Tetranychus urticae. The current results indicated that with an increase in predator density, the per capita prey consumption and searching efficiency of the predator declined. However, the overall prey consumption increased across all tested developmental stages (egg, protonymph and deutonymph) of Tetranychus urticae. The mutual interference coefficient was maximum in protonymph of predator while feeding on protonymphs (0.105) and deutonymphs (0.116) of T. urticae while predator deutonymph is having maximum mutual interference coefficient (0.079) on prey eggs. Prey intake by all predator developmental stages differed statistically significantly across all predator densities. While per capita consumption remaining statistically identical at lower densities, however, showed a significant difference at the maximum predator density. Therefore, mutual interference is an essential metric in order to determine the release rate of predators in an IPM strategy and its efficacy in pest management.