ABSTRACT
Preferences and functional response of Coccinellidae to Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

Bagus K. Udiarto1, Rini Murtiningsih1, Agus Muharam1*, Tonny K. Moekasan1, Wiwin Setiawati1, Ahsol Hasyim1, Ineu Sulastrini1, Neni Gunaeni1, Eli Korlina1, Nikardi Gunadi1, Trilaksmi Udiati1, Tateki Y. Tursilarini1, Abdi Negara1, Asni Ardjanhar1, and Ifa Manzila1
 
An exploration study found that 4 out of 11 predominant predator species of Bemisia tabaci in Indonesia belong to Order Coleoptera, family Coccinellidae, i.e., Menochilus sexmaculatus, Coccinella transversalis, Verania lineata, and Curinus coeruleus. The current study was conducted to further determine the most effective predator species among those coccinellids. The evaluation included three consecutive assays, i.e., predation, preference, and functional response assay. The experiments were conducted in 2019 under controlled conditions in West Java. Predation assay using B. tabaci as the prey showed that M. sexmaculatus, C. transversalis, and V. lineata had comparable predation capacity to consume 46-48 nymphs d-1 or 9 adults d-1, and the V. lineata preference to B. tabaci was higher compared to other predators. Further logistic regression analysis (linear coefficient P1 = -0.1006, X2 = 34.99) showed that V. lineata had type II functional response characteristics. The analysis using the Hollings disc equation for type II functional response (R2 = 0.9239) suggested that the searching rate (a) and the handling time (Th) of V. lineata to B. tabaci nymphs were 0.3522 h-1 and 0.151 h, respectively. These results indicate that V. lineata could be considered in pest management strategies and effectively regulate populations of B. tabaci in Indonesia.
Keywords: Bemisia tabaci, chili pepper, Coccinellidae, functional response, predation.
1National Research and Innovation Agency, Jl. Raya Jakarta – Bogor km 46, Cibinong, Bogor, Indonesia.
*Corresponding author (agus.muharam55@gmail.com).