other acarophagous lady beetle species have not been studied so far and this should
be considered in future researches in Iran.
In addition to those researches presented here, some studies have been done on
the functional response of S. gilvifrons to different prey types or under different
conditions but most of them mainly were unpublished MSc. thesis, so that access to
their results or experimental details is difficult or impossible.
Except those studies mentioned above, there are some sporadic investigations
about the functional response of other native or exotic lady beetles such as
Exochomus nigromaculatus (Goeze), Adalia bipunctata (Linnaeus 1758), Nephus
arccuatus Kapur, Serangium montazerii Fürsch, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
Mulsant and Scymnus syriacus Marseul with different prey species (Table 2.5). In
most of these studies, the different life stages of ladybird showed type II that is
common among related documents (Table 2.5). Different aphid species have been
used as prey in most of F.R. studies. Below, we will review some of the most
relevant ones.
Exochomus nigromaculatus Goeze is one of the important but less known lady
beetles species showing type II functional response to two aphid species, oleander
aphid, A. nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe and cowpea aphid, A. craccivora Koch, 1854
(Nazari et al. 2005). They reported the higher suitability of oleander aphid relative to
cowpea aphid for E. nigromaculatus feeding according to searching efficiency.
Dehghan Dehnavi et al. (2007) again showed the superiority of fourth instar
larvae of A. bipunctata in predation of their prey relative to females. However, their
study duration was only six hours which makes the comparison of outcomes be more
complex, because typical F.R. experiments last about 24 hours.
Another native lady beetle species, Scymnus syriacus Marseul adults, exhibited
an inverse density- dependent response to black bean aphid density. As expected, the
females have higher instantaneous searching efficiency and lower handling time than
males (Sabaghi et al. 2011a ). Although, this species showed type III functional
response to increasing prey densities of A. craccivora. They showed the inverse
relationship of arena size and increasing prey densities with the searching efficacy of
S. syriacus. The handling time ranged from 0.494 to 0.687, depending on arena size
(Sabaghi et al. 2011b).
Fotukkiaii and Sahragard (2012, 2013) reported type II response of whitefly lady
beetle, S. montazerii females to different densities of citrus whitefly eggs, while the
kind of patch design (closed or open) did not have any influence on functional
response type. They also showed the patch time residence of S. montazerii was
inversely dependent on prey density (Fotukkiaii and Sahragard 2013). They stressed
higher efficiencies of fourth instar larvae than females of S. montazerii against citrus
whitefly that have been confirmed with another lady beetle species. Although, they
implied their control potential against D. citri.
The functional response of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (fourth Instar
larvae and females) to different stages of citrus mealybug Planococcus citri (Risso)
(second, third and females) was also investigated (Abdollahi Ahi et al. 2012). They
showed that fourth instar larvae of C. montrouzieri showed a type III response to
the second instar nymph of citrus mealybug suggesting that the earlier release of
66
H. Madadi
be considered in future researches in Iran.
In addition to those researches presented here, some studies have been done on
the functional response of S. gilvifrons to different prey types or under different
conditions but most of them mainly were unpublished MSc. thesis, so that access to
their results or experimental details is difficult or impossible.
Except those studies mentioned above, there are some sporadic investigations
about the functional response of other native or exotic lady beetles such as
Exochomus nigromaculatus (Goeze), Adalia bipunctata (Linnaeus 1758), Nephus
arccuatus Kapur, Serangium montazerii Fürsch, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
Mulsant and Scymnus syriacus Marseul with different prey species (Table 2.5). In
most of these studies, the different life stages of ladybird showed type II that is
common among related documents (Table 2.5). Different aphid species have been
used as prey in most of F.R. studies. Below, we will review some of the most
relevant ones.
Exochomus nigromaculatus Goeze is one of the important but less known lady
beetles species showing type II functional response to two aphid species, oleander
aphid, A. nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe and cowpea aphid, A. craccivora Koch, 1854
(Nazari et al. 2005). They reported the higher suitability of oleander aphid relative to
cowpea aphid for E. nigromaculatus feeding according to searching efficiency.
Dehghan Dehnavi et al. (2007) again showed the superiority of fourth instar
larvae of A. bipunctata in predation of their prey relative to females. However, their
study duration was only six hours which makes the comparison of outcomes be more
complex, because typical F.R. experiments last about 24 hours.
Another native lady beetle species, Scymnus syriacus Marseul adults, exhibited
an inverse density- dependent response to black bean aphid density. As expected, the
females have higher instantaneous searching efficiency and lower handling time than
males (Sabaghi et al. 2011a ). Although, this species showed type III functional
response to increasing prey densities of A. craccivora. They showed the inverse
relationship of arena size and increasing prey densities with the searching efficacy of
S. syriacus. The handling time ranged from 0.494 to 0.687, depending on arena size
(Sabaghi et al. 2011b).
Fotukkiaii and Sahragard (2012, 2013) reported type II response of whitefly lady
beetle, S. montazerii females to different densities of citrus whitefly eggs, while the
kind of patch design (closed or open) did not have any influence on functional
response type. They also showed the patch time residence of S. montazerii was
inversely dependent on prey density (Fotukkiaii and Sahragard 2013). They stressed
higher efficiencies of fourth instar larvae than females of S. montazerii against citrus
whitefly that have been confirmed with another lady beetle species. Although, they
implied their control potential against D. citri.
The functional response of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (fourth Instar
larvae and females) to different stages of citrus mealybug Planococcus citri (Risso)
(second, third and females) was also investigated (Abdollahi Ahi et al. 2012). They
showed that fourth instar larvae of C. montrouzieri showed a type III response to
the second instar nymph of citrus mealybug suggesting that the earlier release of
66
H. Madadi