Aphid Species and Feeding Location on Canola Influences the Impact of Glucosinolates on a Native Lady Beetle Predator

Abstract

Aphids that attack canola (Brassica napus L.) exhibit feeding preferences for different parts of canola plants, which may be associated with brassica-specific glucosinolates. However, this idea remains untested. Furthermore, canola aphid species employ different strategies for tolerating glucosinolates. While the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), excretes glucosinolates, the cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) sequesters them. Given the different detoxification mechanisms, we predicted that both aphid species and aphid feeding location would affect prey suitability for larvae of the predator, Hippodamia convergens (Guérin-Méneville) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). We hypothesized that aphids, specifically glucosinolate-sequestering cabbage aphid, reared on reproductive structures that harbor higher glucosinolates concentrations would have greater negative effects on predators than those reared on vegetative structures which have lower levels of glucosinolates, and that the impact of aphid feeding location would vary depending on the prey detoxification mechanism. To test these predictions, we conducted experiments to compare 1) glucosinolates profiles between B. brassicae and M. persicae reared on reproductive and vegetative canola structures, 2) aphid population growth on each structure, and 3) their subsequent impact on fitness traits of H. convergens. Results indicate that the population growth of both aphids was greater on reproductive structures, with B. brassicae having the highest population growth. B. brassicae reared on reproductive structures had the highest concentrations of glucosinolates, and the greatest adverse effects on H. convergens. These findings suggest that both aphid-prey species and feeding location on canola could influence populations of this predator and, thus, its potential for biological control of canola aphids.

Keywords: biological control; plant–insect interaction; prey quality; tri-trophic effect.