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Intraguild predation by H armonia axyridis ( C oleoptera: C occinellidae) on native insects in E urope: molecular detection from field samples
Author(s) -
Brown Peter Michael James,
Ingels Brecht,
Wheatley Angela,
Rhule Emma L.,
Patrick,
Thomas,
Thomas Alison
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
entomological science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1479-8298
pISSN - 1343-8786
DOI - 10.1111/ens.12092
Subject(s) - biology , predation , intraguild predation , predator , botany , ecology
Abstract Intraguild predation ( IGP ) is a potential mechanism of negative effects on native species populations by invasive non‐native species such as H armonia axyridis . Molecular techniques (polymerase chain reaction) were used to probe for the presence of various insect (coccinellid, syrphid and chrysopid) prey DNA in the guts of 177 H . axyridis larvae field‐collected in E ngland, F rance, G ermany, S lovakia and the C zech R epublic in 2010. Three of the four target prey species were detected in the guts of H . axyridis at the following rates: A dalia decempunctata 9.6%, A dalia bipunctata 2.8% and E pisyrphus balteatus 2.8%. IGP on C hrysoperla carnea was not detected. IGP detection of at least one target species was made in E ngland, F rance, S lovakia and the C zech R epublic, but not in G ermany. These results strengthen the evidence that H . axyridis is a very generalist predator. Results are discussed in the context of their ecological significance.