Optimal diet theory (ODT) postulates that predators adjust their foraging decisions by calculating a prey value from the potential biomass gain, handling time, prey vulnerability and encounter rate. Tests of ODT have however so far mainly been restricted to laboratory settings. By video surveillance, we gathered a large data set of more than 2000 field observations of crab spider (Misumena vati...

in this research, population fluctuation of canola aphids and their natural enemies were investigated during 2007-2008. random samples of 50 plants were taken twice a week. mustard aphid (lipaphis erysimi kalt.), green peach aphid(myzus persicae sulzer)and cabbage aphid (brevicoryne brassicae l.) were recorded on canola. however,the mustard aphid with relative frequency of 79% was dominant. the...

Many pollinator insects, especially honey bees [ Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Apidae)] and wild bees, are experiencing population decline because of forage habitat losses. Planting perennial flowering taxa is one method increasing habitat. The objectives this study were to evaluate the potential 27 native species ornamental cultivars determine their ability attract insect pollinators in a rural an ...

Tree hollows offer an ideal niche for saproxylic insects in mature Mediterranean forests, where Diptera and Coleoptera are the richest groups. Co-occurrence is frequently observed among many species of both groups in these microhabitats, and some of these species have been considered to facilitate the presence of other species by acting as ecosystem engineers. One of the systems that is found i...

—Two hundred and ninety six adults, larvae, and pupae of Microdon fuscipennis were collected and/or reared from nests of the dolichoderine ant, Iridomyrmex pruinosus (Roger). Observations are made on the distribution of M. fuscipennis in the ant nests, sex ratio (1:1), adult emergence, mating, number of eggs laid (x = 63), larval emergence from the egg, and predation (third-instar fly larvae fr...

Heteropteran predators constitute an important component of predatory guilds in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Most heteropteran species have generalist diets, and intraguild predation has been documented in most heteropteran families. Zoophytophagous species also frequently engage in intraguild interactions. An increase in extraguild prey density is often predicted to reduce intraguild pr...