Functional response of larval and adult Coccinella septempunctata to eggs and larvae of Plutella xylostella on canola

Understanding of functional responses (i.e., changes in predator feeding rates with prey density) of key predators to different crop pest stages is critical to strengthening biological control, particularly in view of climate change and temperature variation. We investigated prey preferences of Coccinella septempunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinelidae) to egg and larval stages of a key brassicaceous pest of canola (Brassica napus L., Brassicaceae), the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). First, laboratory choice and no-choice bioassays tested the hypotheses that C. septempunctata accepts and differentially prefers two prey developmental stages (eggs and larvae). Then, C. septempunctata larvae and adults were exposed to six densities of P. xylostella eggs over 24 h in functional response bioassays that determined the number of eggs consumed. Finally, the functional response bioassays were repeated with larval prey and extended with three temperature regimes: 10, 22 and 32 °C. In both choice and no-choice assays, C. septempunctata adults and larvae consumed more P. xylostella larvae than eggs. The functional response of C. septempunctata depended on predator developmental stage and temperature, with reduced handling time and increased attack rates and consumption under warmer conditions. At 10 and 22 °C, the functional responses of both C. septempunctata larvae and adults were of Type II, i.e., rates of prey consumption increase at decelerating rates and then plateau with increasing prey density. Our study demonstrates that both larvae and adults of C. septempunctata can consume high numbers of eggs and early instar P. xylostella larvae; these responses are temperature-dependent with increased consumption rates at higher temperatures. This may lead to improvements in management of P. xylostella in canola.