Impact of Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on the survival rates of other aphidophagous species in semi-field conditions

in Communication in agricultural and applied biological sciences (2011, May 24), 76(2), 219-226

The multicoloured Asian ladybird Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), previously introduced as a biological control agent against aphids, is now frequently considered as an intraguild ... [more ▼]

The multicoloured Asian ladybird Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), previously introduced as a biological control agent against aphids, is now frequently considered as an intraguild predator, consuming other aphid natural enemies. Interactions between this exotic ladybird and other aphidophagous species present in Belgian agro-ecosystems such as Coccinella septempunctata, Episyrphus balteatus and Chrysoperla carnea are asymmetric to the benefit of H. axyridis. This study focuses on the survival rate of three aphidophagous species Harmonia axyridis (Ha), Coccinella septempunctata (C7) and Episyrphus balteatus (Eb) placed in cages in biological fields of potato and sugar beet. During June and July, hermetic cages were disposed on the crops with 10 larvae (second stage) of each aphidophagous. Four types of cages were observed (1) Ha+Eb+C7+ aphids, (2) Ha+Eb+C7, (3) Eb+C7+ aphids and (4) Eb+C7. Each combination was repeated three times. In sugar beet fields, E. balteatus was the species with the highest mortality rate. The two coccinellid species had a better survival rate than E. balteatus. All aphidophagous species had higher mortality rates in absence of aphids. In potato, when aphids were present in excess, the survival rates of all aphidophagous insects were lower than in sugar beet probably because A. fabae is less adapted to the potato morphology. Nevertheless, we have observed in potato no mortality of C. 7-punctata during all its development cycle. This suggests that (1) C. 7-punctata may use aphids as food sources more efficiently than H. axyridis and (2) that interactions between aphidophagous could be less frequent (difficulty of mobility). In potato and sugar beet, H. axyridis had the longest development cycle, being still at the larval stage when C. 7-punctata and E. balteatus reached the pupae stage. We can suppose that pupae of E. balteatus and C. 7-punctata were an alternative food (intraguild prey) to H. axyridis when aphids were lacking. Pupae are immobile and therefore more sensitive to the attack of predators. [less ▲]

La coccinelle asiatique est-elle l'aphidiphage dominant dans les agro-écosystèmes ?

in 9ème Conférence Internationale sur les Ravageurs en Agriculture, Montpellier 26-27 octobre 2011 (2011)

The Asian ladybird, Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), has been introduced in Western Europe to control aphid and coccid populations in greenhouses. This exotic species rapidly adapted ... [more ▼]

The Asian ladybird, Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), has been introduced in Western Europe to control aphid and coccid populations in greenhouses. This exotic species rapidly adapted to temperate climatic conditions and invaded all Europe in few years. Now, H. axyridis is causing damages to the ecosystems through e.g. intraguild predation (IGP) with native species. We evaluated, in 2009 and 2010, the occurrence of aphid natural enemies (hoverflies, coccinellids and lacewings) in several agro-ecosystems (corn, wheat, potato, broad bean) in northern Wallonia (Belgium). Five dominating aphidophagous species were observed, in decreasing order of importance: Episyrphus balteatus (De Geer), Chrysoperla carnea sensus lato (Stephens), Coccinella septempunctata (Linné), Harmonia axyridis and Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (Linné). The Multicolored Asian ladybird represents 8,7% of all observed aphidophagous species and 23,9% of coccinellids. Moreover, H. axyridis occurrence is two-times less important than C. 7-punctata. These results highlight that this invasive species is currently not the most abundant in southern Belgium agro-ecosystems and would not influence other aphid predators in those particular ecosystems. [less ▲]

Occurrence de la coccinelle asiatique (Harmonia axyridis Pallas), la coccinelle à 7 points (Coccinella septempunctata L.), le syrphe ceinturé (Episyrphus balteatus De Geer) et la chrysope (Chrysoperla sp.) au sein d’agro-écosystèmes wallons

Poster (2010, November 06)

Occurrence de la coccinelle asiatique, Harmonia axyridis Pallas, dans les agro-écosystèmes wallons

Conference (2010, July 06)

The occurrence of multicolored ladybird, Harmonia axyridis Pallas, a biological control agent in agroecosystems in Wallonia

Conference (2010, May 18)

The Asian ladybird, Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), was imported in 1997 in Belgium to control aphid populations in greenhouses. It took only few years to the insect to get adapted ... [more ▼]

The Asian ladybird, Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), was imported in 1997 in Belgium to control aphid populations in greenhouses. It took only few years to the insect to get adapted to temperate climate conditions and to spread out all over Europe. Now, H. axyridis is one of the coccinellid with the biggest size in Belgium, causing damages to the ecosystems through e.g. intraguild predation (IGP). We are still lacking information about the consequences of the introduction of this superpredator in our agro-ecosystems. This work focuses on the potential impacts of H. axyridis on the entomofauna associated with several crops (potatos, corn, wheat, broad bean). We evaluated in 2009 the occurrence as well as the interactions between aphids and their natural enemies (hoverflies, coccinellids and lacewings) in several agro-ecosystem sites in northern Wallonia. After one year of field observations, were found thirteen coccinellid species, most of the catched individuals being H. axyridis with 64% of the coccinellids, Propylea 14-punctata, 15%, or Coccinella 7-punctata, 14%. This invasive ladybird dominates the group of coccinellids generally in all crops in north Wallonia. The results with the sticky traps show that the maximum occurrence of H. axyridis in crops is observed in chicory, sugar beet and potatoes. The relationship aphid-ladybird in wheat for example, brings out that increase of density of Asian ladybird in mid-July follow the increase of aphids (Sitobion avenae, Sitobion fragariae, Metopolophium dirhodum, Aphis fabae) in the end of June. We also observe that, in most agro-ecosystems, hoverflies and lacewings are the dominant aphid natural enemies. In all crops investigate, the multicolored ladybird occurs with 5% of the aphidophagous after the Chrysopidae, 12% and the Syrphidae, 76%. In 2009, the agro-ecosystems with the most aphidophagous species are carrot and broad bean and these habitats are dominated by hoverflies. [less ▲]

Occurrence of the multicolored ladybird, Harmonia axyridis PALLAS in Walloon agro-ecosystems

Conference (2010, May 05)

The Asian ladybird, Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), was imported in 1997 in Belgium to control aphid populations in greenhouses. It took only few years to the insect to get adapted ... [more ▼]

The Asian ladybird, Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), was imported in 1997 in Belgium to control aphid populations in greenhouses. It took only few years to the insect to get adapted to temperate climate conditions and to spread out all over Europe. Now, H. axyridis is one of the coccinellid with the biggest size in Belgium, causing damages to the ecosystems through e.g. intraguild predation (IGP). We are still lacking information about the consequences of the introduction of this superpredator in our agro-ecosystems. This work focuses on the potential impacts of H. axyridis on the entomofauna associated with several crops (potatos, corn, wheat, broad bean). We evaluated in 2009 the occurrence as well as the interactions between aphids and their natural enemies (hoverflies, coccinellids and lacewings) in several agro-ecosystem sites in northern Wallonia. After one year of field observations, were found thirteen coccinellid species, most of the catched individuals being H. axyridis with 64% of the coccinellids, Propylea 14-punctata, 15%, or Coccinella 7-punctata, 14%. This invasive ladybird dominates the group of coccinellids generally in all crops in north Wallonia. The results with the sticky traps show that the maximum occurrence of H. axyridis in crops is observed in chicory, sugar beet and potatoes. The relationship aphid-ladybird in wheat for example, brings out that increase of density of Asian ladybird in mid-July follow the increase of aphids (Sitobion avenae, Sitobion fragariae, Metopolophium dirhodum, Aphis fabae) in the end of June. We also observe that, in most agro-ecosystems, hoverflies and lacewings are the dominant aphid natural enemies. In all crops investigate, the multicolored ladybird occurs with 5% of the aphidophagous after the Chrysopidae, 12% and the Syrphidae, 76%. In 2009, the agro-ecosystems with the most aphidophagous species are carrot and broad bean and these habitats are dominated by hoverflies. [less ▲]

Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) secondary metabolites quantification in relation with aposematism : Part II : Pyrazine quantification

Poster (2010, January)

The main objective of this study is to investigate the presence of links between chemical defences and warning signals presented by Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), the multicoloured Asian ladybird (Insects ... [more ▼]

The main objective of this study is to investigate the presence of links between chemical defences and warning signals presented by Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), the multicoloured Asian ladybird (Insects: Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). This second part describes an original quantification method for 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (IPMP) by active sampling on thermally desorbed adsorbent (TD) coupled with GC-MS analysis. This highly odorous compound is supposed to be implicated in intra- and interspecific communication. In order to allow harmonine quantification (a defence alkaloid, see Part 1), this method avoid any hemolymph loses by the ladybird (Coccinellids can emit hemolymph when stressed). This method is non-lethal and applicable on one single insect. The quantification method has been validated from 37,5pg to 10 000 pg per adsorbent cartridge. On this range, there is no breakthrough and desorption is complete (>99.4%). At the LOQ (37.5pg/cartridge), the bias is of 20%, but rapidly decreased to less than 5% on the rest of the validated range (100 to 10 000 pg/cartridge). According to AOAC (2006) norm, this method is repeatable but not reproducible. The IPMP emission rate following a stress has been quantified on 80 H. axyridis grouped in four classes on basis of the morph type and the elytra hue. Males and females emission rates did not significantly differ. The mean emission rate is of 707 pg/4h with an extremely high standard deviation of 1766pg/4h due to a great individual variability and a strongly asymmetric distribution of the results. These results and those of the harmonine and colour analysis have been statistically analyzed in order to show potential correlations between these factors. It seems that elytra colour is linked with the insect IPMP emission rate. Individuals with a melanic red colour presented IPMP emission rate significantly lower than other studied colours. The harmonine content does not seem linked to the pyrazine emission rate. [less ▲]

Contribution à l'étude des mécanismes de prédation d'Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) responsables de sa plus grande compétitivité au sein de la guilde des aphidiphages

Master's dissertation (2008)

The fast spread of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera : Coccinellidae) on the continents where it was earlier introduced can be explained by its higher competitiveness compared with indigenous species ... [more ▼]

The fast spread of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera : Coccinellidae) on the continents where it was earlier introduced can be explained by its higher competitiveness compared with indigenous species. Here, we compared the Asian lady beetle and indigenous aphidophagous insects according to several factors linked to predation. The three additional indigenous aphidophagous species tested were: Adalia bipunctata (Linné) (Coleoptera : Coccinellidae), Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera : Chrysopidae) and Episyrphus balteatus (DeGeer) (Diptera : Syrphidae). The Asian lady beetle consumed more preys than the other studied predators. This was observed with the larval stages but also with adults. Moreover, its larval development and its pupal stage were shorter. A smaller consumption of aphids was observed while the indigenous predators and H. axyridis were brought together. This could be due to a stress induced by one species on the other or to a mutual stress. Finally, an experience using a volatile collection setup revealed that the amounts of released aphid alarm pheromone were smaller when aphids were attacked by H. axyridis than by the indigenous species. The Asian lady beetle reduced the alarm signal emitted by aphids and could like that benefit from more preys. These results contribute to improve the understanding of this invasive species success. [less ▲]