extraguild prey density, might be synergistic, additive, non-additive or even antagonistic Aphidophagous predators are a common guild which IGP occurs among
them frequently. Most IGP studies have been conducted by different member of this
guild. There are few published studies about intraguild predation in Iran, and many
of them have been undertaken with predatory mites as intraguild predators and preys.
In one of the earliest and most relevant records, the effect of IGP occurrence between
H. variegata (H.v.) and Episyrphus balteatus De Geer (Diptera: Syrphidae) on
cotton aphid population have been evaluated on a microcosm scale (Tavoosi
Ajvad et al. 2014). According to their results, the IGP between third instar larvae
of E. balteatus and H. variegata second instar larvae was asymmetrical, and the
former acts as IG predator against the second instar larvae of H. variegata. They
showed that the interaction of these two predators on the cotton aphid population
was non-additive or even antagonistic i.e. using both predators did not suppress
aphid population more efficiently than a single application of each predator stage.
Different attributes of predator and environment affect IGP outcome. It has been
proposed that density of extraguild prey substantially influences of IGP occurrence
(Hatami et al. 2013). However, the IGP interaction between H. variegata different
life stages and Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani 1847) two-days old larvae was
antagonistic at highest density of extraguild prey (Hatami et al. 2013).
2.8 Applied Studies Employing Different Coccinellid
Species in Greenhouse and Field Environment
Unfortunately, most Iranian researches on lady beetles have been restricted to
laboratorical studies. Therefore, it is not easy to find practical studies with
coccinellids in a small field or even greenhouse scale. They have been done under
net covered cages which produce the illusive outcomes. It has been proposed that
releasing 20 seven spotted lady beetle females per m
2 suppressed the cereal
aphid population up to 45% (Haghshenas et al. 2006). The possibility of Vedalia
beetle establishment in south citrus orchards despite hot summers considered
(Eslami Zadeh and Barzkar 2006; Mossadegh et al. 2008b). Among the lady beetles,
“Crypts” or “Mealybug destroyers” (C. montrouzieri) has been employed practically
more than any other species to control mealybugs as far as more than 6,000,000 and
4,000,000 individuals were released in 2008 and 2009 (Malkeshi et al. 2010). In this
regard, the possible application of this species against citrus spherical mealybug was
prospective, although, hot summers suppressed activity on July (Mossadegh et al.
2008a). Of course, keep in mind that this species is sensitive to low temperatures and
could not endure long-term storage (Shahriari et al. 2016).
Acknowledgement The special thanks dedicated to Prof. Dr. Steven Juliano for critically reading
the part of this manuscript and sending his valuable comments.
2 Lady Beetles; Lots of Efforts but few Successes
73
them frequently. Most IGP studies have been conducted by different member of this
guild. There are few published studies about intraguild predation in Iran, and many
of them have been undertaken with predatory mites as intraguild predators and preys.
In one of the earliest and most relevant records, the effect of IGP occurrence between
H. variegata (H.v.) and Episyrphus balteatus De Geer (Diptera: Syrphidae) on
cotton aphid population have been evaluated on a microcosm scale (Tavoosi
Ajvad et al. 2014). According to their results, the IGP between third instar larvae
of E. balteatus and H. variegata second instar larvae was asymmetrical, and the
former acts as IG predator against the second instar larvae of H. variegata. They
showed that the interaction of these two predators on the cotton aphid population
was non-additive or even antagonistic i.e. using both predators did not suppress
aphid population more efficiently than a single application of each predator stage.
Different attributes of predator and environment affect IGP outcome. It has been
proposed that density of extraguild prey substantially influences of IGP occurrence
(Hatami et al. 2013). However, the IGP interaction between H. variegata different
life stages and Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani 1847) two-days old larvae was
antagonistic at highest density of extraguild prey (Hatami et al. 2013).
2.8 Applied Studies Employing Different Coccinellid
Species in Greenhouse and Field Environment
Unfortunately, most Iranian researches on lady beetles have been restricted to
laboratorical studies. Therefore, it is not easy to find practical studies with
coccinellids in a small field or even greenhouse scale. They have been done under
net covered cages which produce the illusive outcomes. It has been proposed that
releasing 20 seven spotted lady beetle females per m
2 suppressed the cereal
aphid population up to 45% (Haghshenas et al. 2006). The possibility of Vedalia
beetle establishment in south citrus orchards despite hot summers considered
(Eslami Zadeh and Barzkar 2006; Mossadegh et al. 2008b). Among the lady beetles,
“Crypts” or “Mealybug destroyers” (C. montrouzieri) has been employed practically
more than any other species to control mealybugs as far as more than 6,000,000 and
4,000,000 individuals were released in 2008 and 2009 (Malkeshi et al. 2010). In this
regard, the possible application of this species against citrus spherical mealybug was
prospective, although, hot summers suppressed activity on July (Mossadegh et al.
2008a). Of course, keep in mind that this species is sensitive to low temperatures and
could not endure long-term storage (Shahriari et al. 2016).
Acknowledgement The special thanks dedicated to Prof. Dr. Steven Juliano for critically reading
the part of this manuscript and sending his valuable comments.
2 Lady Beetles; Lots of Efforts but few Successes
73