AUTHOR=Wang Qian , Zhang Meng , Guo Qiuyu , Wu Chenxin , Sun Liang 

TITLE=Predation evaluation of the green lacewing, Chrysopa pallens on the pink tea mite pest, Acaphylla theae (Watt) (Acarina: Eriophyidae)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1307579

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2023.1307579

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p>A better understanding of predator-prey interactions is crucial for the development of biological control strategies. The green lacewing, <italic>Chrysopa pallens</italic>, is a well-known generalist predator and reportedly functions as one of the most important biological control agents of insect pests. However, information regarding <italic>C</italic>. <italic>pallens</italic>’ predation on tea plant pests, particularly notorious tea mites, remains largely unknown. In this study, we focused on the predator-prey relationship between <italic>C</italic>. <italic>pallens</italic> and an important tea mite pest, <italic>Acaphylla theae</italic>. We designed species-specific primers for the detection of <italic>A. theae</italic> DNA and established a PCR-based DNA gut content analysis assay. These results demonstrated that the primers were <italic>A. theae</italic>-specific and suitable for its molecular identification. The laboratory feeding experiment showed that the detectability success (DS<sub>50</sub>) of <italic>A. theae</italic> DNA remaining in <italic>C. pallens’</italic> guts was 2.9 h. We then performed a molecular detection of field predation, and achieved a 23.53% positive detection rate of <italic>A. theae</italic> DNA in the guts of field-collected <italic>C. pallens</italic>. This, for the first time, provides direct evidence that <italic>C. pallens</italic> can prey on <italic>A. theae</italic> in tea plantations. Finally, we tested the prey preference and estimated the predation ability of <italic>C. pallens</italic> on different developmental stages of <italic>A. theae</italic>. The results revealed that <italic>C. pallens</italic> had no significant preference for different developmental stages of <italic>A. theae</italic>. The functional responses of <italic>C. pallens</italic>’ predation on different densities of <italic>A. theae</italic> at different developmental stages followed a Type II Holling model. The initial attack rate (a’) ranged from 0.735 to 0.858 and the handling time (T<sub>h</sub>) was approximately 0.01. This study is the first to demonstrate the trophic interactions between <italic>C. pallens</italic> and <italic>A. theae</italic> and provides evidence for the development of biological control strategies against <italic>A. theae</italic> using <italic>C. pallens</italic> as a candidate predator.</p>