Recent data suggest that oxygen limitation may induce moulting in larval insects. This oxygen-dependent induction of moulting (ODIM) hypothesis stems from the fact that the tracheal respiratory system of insects grows primarily at moults, whereas tissue mass increases massively between moults. This may result in a mismatch between oxygen supply and demand at the end of each larval instar becaus...

Harmonia axyridis has been introduced as a biological control agent in Europe and the USA. Since its introduction, it has established and spread, and it is now regarded as an invasive alien species. It has been suggested that intraguild predation is especially important for the invasion success of H. axyridis. The aim of this study was to compare the intraguild predation behaviour of three lady...

It has been suggested that mosquito larvae and pupae dive to avoid predators. We tested this predator-avoidance hypothesis by using immature Anopheles gambiae Giles (Diptera: Culicidae) and the wolf spider Pardosa messingerae (Stand) (Araneae: Lycosidae). Because previous studies have suggested that wolf spiders are poor predators of immature mosquitoes, we first examined the predatory ability ...

understanding of parameters that influence parasitoids fitness is necessary for mass rearing and effective use of parasitoids. host quality is an intrinsic feature that is determined by quantitative and qualitative differences in hosts. these differences can change nutritional resources available and consequently affect life history traits of parasitoid. in this study, parasitoid wasps lysiphle...

Predation is an important factor in the dynamics of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) populations, yet predation rates can be difÞcult to estimate accurately in the Þeld. Biased estimates can result from spatial heterogeneity in risk or from artifacts associated with deploying prey. Here we compare predation rates on freeze-dried gypsy moth pupae afÞxed with beeswax to pieces of burlap withpreda...

Chemical and biological insecticides have been frequently used in sugarcane fields to control insects-pests, including the borer, Diatraea saccharalis. Among products used, those based on chlorantraniliprole Metarhizium anisopliae entomopathogenic fungus, stand out. Euborellia annulipes is an insect of order Dermaptera considered a potential predator borer eggs. This study aimed evaluate direct...