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Effect of crop diversity on predation activity and population dynamics of the mirid predator Nesidiocoris tenuis

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Abstract

A considerable body of evidence has demonstrated the positive impact of the diversity of plant species on biological control of pests at the field scale. However, very few studies have assessed the effect of crop diversity on natural enemy performance and pest control. In order to test our hypothesis that crop diversity could increase natural enemy development and performance, we examined the mechanisms underlying the effect of two types of crop succession, i.e., multiple-crop succession (tomato, squash and soybean) and mono-crop succession (each crop alone), on population dynamics, predation capacity and spillover of Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter (Hemiptera: Miridae) in a greenhouse experiment. We found that (1) the polyculture supported lower population growth of N. tenuis and lower predation rates of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs compared to tomato and squash monocultures, but that correspondingly (2) the predator performed better on the polyculture than on the soybean monoculture. These results revealed that crop identity within the succession is a major factor in determining population dynamics and biological control. We found that compared to soybean monoculture, the presence of soybean Glycine max L. (Fabales: Fabaceae) in the polyculture treatment reduced the population dynamics of the mirid predator but increased biological control. This result suggests that non-host crops in a polycultural succession could benefit from the natural enemy populations that were increased by other suitable crops in the succession.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Edwige Amiens and Christiane Metay for technical support. All the authors were supported by the project EUCLID (H2020-SFS-2014, Grant No. 633999).

Funding

This study was funded by the Europe under H2020 program Societal Challenges (H2020-SFS-2014, Grant No. 633999).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Côte d’Azur, INRAE, CNRS, UMR ISA, 06000, Nice, France

    Eva Thomine, Philippe Bearez & Nicolas Desneux

  2. CNRS 6553 Ecosystems, Biodiversity and Evolution (ECOBIO), University Rennes 1, 35042, Rennes, France

    Emma Jeavons

  3. INRAE, ISVV, Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, UMR SAVE, 33883, Villenave d’Ornon, France

    Adrien Rusch

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  1. Eva Thomine
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Correspondence to Nicolas Desneux.

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Thomine, E., Jeavons, E., Rusch, A. et al. Effect of crop diversity on predation activity and population dynamics of the mirid predator Nesidiocoris tenuis. J Pest Sci 93, 1255–1265 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-020-01222-w

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