Zoophytophagous mirid species, that feed and develop either on prey or plant resources, are often found simultaneously on the same host. Hence, these species can engage in both intraguild predation and cannibalism, which can pose a threat to mirid eggs. Ovipositing females may respond to such risks of predation on their eggs by reducing the number of eggs laid or selecting safer oviposition sites. We tested the oviposition behavior of Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) (Hemiptera: Miridae) females under the risk of cannibalism by M. pygmaeus males and intraguild predation by Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) males (Hemiptera: Miridae) under laboratory conditions. Intraguild predators and cannibals were introduced during or after the oviposition period. The number of eggs laid (using counts of newly hatched nymphs) and their proportion on each part of a tomato plant were both measured. The results reveal that only cannibalism by M. pygmaeus males after the period of oviposition significantly decreased the number of hatched eggs. Cannibalism thus represents a greater risk to mirid eggs than intraguild predation. The M. pygmaeus female responded to the presence of potential intraguild predators (or competitors) by decreasing the number of eggs laid in the upper leaves. The results suggest that M. pygmaeus females avoid competition by N. tenuis, by laying fewer eggs on upper leaves. Cannibalism could regulate zoophytophagous predator populations under prey scarcity conditions and minimize the risk of crop damage associated with those biological control agents.

中文翻译：

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公会内捕食和同类相食风险下的黑鲟的产卵行为

Zoophytophagous mirid 物种，以猎物或植物资源为食和发育，通常同时在同一宿主上发现。因此，这些物种既可以进行公会内捕食，也可以自相残杀，这可能对暗黄蛋构成威胁。产卵的雌性可能会通过减少产卵数量或选择更安全的产卵地点来应对这种捕食卵的风险。我们在实验室条件下测试了 Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) (Hemiptera: Miridae) 雌性在 M. pygmaeus 雄性同类相食和 Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) 雄性 (Hemiptera: Miridae) 捕食的风险下的产卵行为。行内捕食者和食人者是在产卵期期间或之后引入的。产卵的数量（使用新孵化的若虫的数量）和它们在番茄植株每个部分的比例都被测量。结果表明，只有在产卵期后，侏儒猴雄性的同类相食才能显着减少孵化卵的数量。因此，相较于公会内的捕食，同类相食代表了更大的风险。M. pygmaeus 雌性通过减少在上部叶子中产卵的数量来应对潜在的行内捕食者（或竞争者）的存在。结果表明，M. pygmaeus 雌性通过在上部叶片上产卵较少来避免与 N. tenuis 竞争。同类相食可以在猎物稀缺的条件下调节食草动物的捕食者种群，并将与这些生物控制剂相关的作物损害风险降至最低。结果表明，只有在产卵期后，侏儒猴雄性的同类相食才能显着减少孵化卵的数量。因此，相较于公会内的捕食，同类相食代表着更大的风险。M. pygmaeus 雌性通过减少在上部叶子中产卵的数量来应对潜在的行内捕食者（或竞争者）的存在。结果表明，M. pygmaeus 雌性通过在上部叶片上产卵较少来避免与 N. tenuis 竞争。同类相食可以在猎物稀缺的条件下调节食草动物的捕食者种群，并将与这些生物控制剂相关的作物损害风险降至最低。结果表明，只有在产卵期后，侏儒猴雄性的同类相食才能显着减少孵化卵的数量。因此，相较于公会内的捕食，同类相食代表了更大的风险。M. pygmaeus 雌性通过减少在上部叶子中产卵的数量来应对潜在的行内捕食者（或竞争者）的存在。结果表明，M. pygmaeus 雌性通过在上部叶片上产卵较少来避免与 N. tenuis 竞争。同类相食可以在猎物稀缺的条件下调节食草动物的捕食者种群，并将与这些生物控制剂相关的作物损害风险降至最低。因此，相较于公会内的捕食，同类相食代表了更大的风险。M. pygmaeus 雌性通过减少在上部叶子中产卵的数量来应对潜在的行内捕食者（或竞争者）的存在。结果表明，M. pygmaeus 雌性通过在上部叶片上产卵较少来避免与 N. tenuis 竞争。同类相食可以在猎物稀缺的条件下调节食草动物的捕食者种群，并将与这些生物控制剂相关的作物损害风险降至最低。因此，相较于公会内的捕食，同类相食代表了更大的风险。M. pygmaeus 雌性通过减少在上部叶子中产卵的数量来应对潜在的行内捕食者（或竞争者）的存在。结果表明，M. pygmaeus 雌性通过在上部叶片上产卵较少来避免与 N. tenuis 竞争。同类相食可以在猎物稀缺的条件下调节食草动物的捕食者种群，并将与这些生物控制剂相关的作物损害风险降至最低。