Abstract
Episyrphus balteatus (De Geer) (Diptera: Syrphidae) larvae are polyphagous predators of aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and play an important role in their biological control. This study examined the prey preference of E. balteatus larvae among different aphid-host plant combinations and evaluated the influence of lingering aphid cues on larval choice. Four treatments were tested: Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach) on cabbage (Brassica oleracea) (Family: Brassicaceae), L. erysimi (Kaltenbach) on mustard (Brassica nigra) (Family: Brassicaceae), Aphis gossypii Glover on chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) (Family: Asteraceae), and Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe on milkweed plant (Calotropis gigantea) (Family: Apocynaceae). In a four-choice arena, second instar larvae (n=33, starved for 24 hours) showed statistically significant prey preference. L. erysimi on cabbage was most preferred, while A. nerii was the least chosen, possibly due to the presence of cardenolides. In a separate experiment, larval attraction to previously aphid- infested leaves (aphids removed) was compared with uninfected leaves. Larvae (n=30) preferred previously infested leaves in 73.3% of trials, and the difference was statistically significant based on a goodness of fit test, indicating attraction to residual cues such as honeydew left by aphids on the leaf surface. Results highlight that prey selection in E. balteatus larvae is shaped by both prey species and host plant, as well as residual chemical signals. These findings improve understanding of syrphid larval foraging ecology and support their application in integrated pest management programs.
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Claims 4
Claim · model-written summary
Episyrphus balteatus larvae showed statistically significant prey preference among the four aphid-host plant combinations.
- Interactor
- aphidsAphidomorphae0pest
- Second interactor
- Episyrphus balteatus
Episyrphus balteatuse0biocontrol_agent - Outcome
- prey preferencee1
Not reportedTaxon
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Episyrphus balteatus (De Geer) (Diptera: Syrphidae) larvae are polyphagous predators of aphids”
e1“In a four-choice arena, second instar larvae (n=33, starved for 24 hours) showed statistically significant prey preference”
Claim · model-written summary
Lipaphis erysimi on cabbage was the most preferred prey among the tested aphid-host plant combinations.
- Taxon
- Brassica oleracea
Brassica oleraceae3 - Interactor
- Lipaphis erysimi
Lipaphis erysimie3pest - Second interactor
- Episyrphus balteatusEpisyrphus balteatuse0biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- most preferrede2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Episyrphus balteatus (De Geer) (Diptera: Syrphidae) larvae are polyphagous predators of aphids”
e2“L. erysimi on cabbage was most preferred, while A. nerii was the least chosen, possibly due to the presence of cardenolides”
e3“Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach) on cabbage (Brassica oleracea)”
Claim · model-written summary
Aphis nerii on milkweed was the least chosen prey, possibly because of cardenolides.
- Taxon
- Calotropis gigantea
_Calotropis_gigantea_flower_Pilangsari_2019.jpg?width=60)
Calotropis giganteae4 - Interactor
- A. nerii
Aphis neriie2pest - Second interactor
- Episyrphus balteatusEpisyrphus balteatuse0biocontrol_agent
- Compound
- cardenolidese2
- Outcome
- least chosene2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_Calotropis_gigantea_flower_Pilangsari_2019.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Episyrphus balteatus (De Geer) (Diptera: Syrphidae) larvae are polyphagous predators of aphids”
e2“L. erysimi on cabbage was most preferred, while A. nerii was the least chosen, possibly due to the presence of cardenolides”
e4“Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe on milkweed plant (Calotropis gigantea)”
Claim · model-written summary
Larvae preferred previously aphid-infested leaves in 73.3% of trials, a significant difference.
- Interactor
- Episyrphus balteatusEpisyrphus balteatuse0biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- preferred previously infested leavese5
- Value
- 73.3%e5
Not reportedTaxon
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Episyrphus balteatus (De Geer) (Diptera: Syrphidae) larvae are polyphagous predators of aphids”
e5“Larvae (n=30) preferred previously infested leaves in 73.3% of trials, and the difference was statistically significant based on a goodness of fit test”