Functional response of Harmonia axyridis preying on Acyrthosiphon pisum nymphs: the effect of temperature

AbstractIn the current study, we investigated the functional response ofHarmonia axyridisadults and larvae foraging onAcyrthosiphon pisumnymphs at temperatures between 15 and 35 °C. Logistic regression and Roger’s random predator models were employed to determine the type and parameters of the functional response.Harmonia axyridislarvae and adults exhibited Type II functional responses toA. pisum, and warming increased both the predation activity and host aphid control mortality. Female and 4th instarH. axyridisconsumed the most aphids. For fourth instar larvae and femaleH. axyridisadults, the successful attack rates were 0.23 ± 0.014 h−1and 0.25 ± 0.015 h−1; the handling times were 0.13 ± 0.005 h and 0.16 ± 0.004 h; and the estimated maximum predation rates were 181.28 ± 14.54 and 153.85 ± 4.06, respectively. These findings accentuate the high performance of 4th instar and femaleH. axyridisand the role of temperature in their efficiency. Further, we discussed such temperature-driven shifts in predation and prey mortality concerning prey-predator foraging interactions towards biological control.