Effects of light on the tritrophic interaction between kidney bean plants,two-spotted spider mites and predatory mites, Amblyseius womersleyi (Acari: Phytoseiidae)
T. Maeda et al., Effects of light on the tritrophic interaction between kidney bean plants,two-spotted spider mites and predatory mites, Amblyseius womersleyi (Acari: Phytoseiidae), EXP APPL AC, 24(5-6), 2000, pp. 415-425
By analyzing the volatiles from Tetranychus urticae-infested kidney bean pl
ants (Phaseolus vulgaris) at different times for two days, we found that th
ey were mainly produced in the light. Tetranychus urticae showed a higher o
viposition rate and spent more time feeding during the day (in the light) t
han at night (in the dark). Infested leaves placed in the light attracted t
he predatory mite Amblyseius womersleyi, whereas those that were placed in
the dark for at least 2 h in daytime did not. This indicates that presence
or absence of light affects the production of herbivore-induced plant volat
iles. Amblyseius womersleyi dispersed more frequently and consumed more T.
urticae eggs during the day (in the light) than at night (in the dark), whe
reas their oviposition rate did not differ between day and night. Presence
or absence of herbivore-induced plant volatiles in the surroundings did not
affect dispersal, predation or oviposition rates of A. womersleyi. These r
esults show that A. womersleyi's behavior coincides with the production pat
tern of herbivore-induced plant volatiles.