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  • Temperature-dependent funct...
    da Silva Nunes, Gilmar; Truzi, Caio Cesar; Cardoso, Camila Pires; Vieira, Natalia Fernanda; Ramalho, Dagmara Gomes; de Souza, Joice Mendonça; De Bortoli, Sergio Antonio

    Journal of thermal biology, October 2020, 2020-10-00, 20201001, Volume: 93
    Journal Article

    Temperature mediates trophic interactions, including relationships between insect pests and predators, and functional response studies are often used to determine the suitability of predators as biocontrol agents. We investigated the effects of temperature on the functional response of Euborellia annulipes (Lucas) (Dermaptera: Anisolabididae) preying on Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) larvae. Predation rate, type of functional response, attack rate (a'), handling time (Th), and maximum predation rate (T/Th) of the predator were estimated using seven prey densities and three thermal conditions. The functional response of E. annulipes to P. xylostella was temperature-dependent, type III under the lower temperatur (18°C and 25 °C) , and type II at 32 °C. We observed increasing values of a’ in 25 °C and 32 °C, decreasing values of Th and highest T/Th as the thermal condition increased. Our findings suggest that E. annulipes could be effective to control P. xylostella under different thermal conditions, however its predation behavior changes according to temperature variation. •The ringlegged earwig Euborellia annulipes is a predator of Plutella xylostella.•Functional response describes the potential of a predator as biocontrol agent.•Thermal conditions mediate trophic interactions between predators and preys.•Temperature changes functional response of E. annulipes on P. xylostella larvae.