Figure 1.
Predation of B. tabaci (nymphs) and T. absoluta (eggs and larvae) by M. pygmaeus adult predators in various Prey complex.
Mean number (±SEM) of prey attacked by M. pygmaeus adult predators per prey type and as function of the various B. tabaci and T. absoluta prey ratio (Prey complex) tested in the microcosms. Dark grey: predation on B. tabaci nymphs; medium grey: predation on T. absoluta eggs; light grey: predation on T. absoluta larvae.
Figure 2.
Predation of B. tabaci (nymphs) and T. absoluta (eggs and larvae) by M. pygmaeus juvenile predators in various Prey complex.
Mean number (±SEM) of prey attacked by M. pygmaeus juvenile predators per prey type and as function of the various B. tabaci and T. absoluta prey ratio (Prey complex) tested in the microcosms. Dark grey: predation on B. tabaci nymphs; medium grey: predation on T. absoluta eggs; light grey: predation on T. absoluta larvae.
Figure 3.
Prey preference of M. pygmaeus adult predators (based on Manly’s Beta values) depending on initial ratio among prey.
Manly’s Beta values (± SE) for M. pygmaeus adult predators in three-prey patches (B. tabaci nymphs, T. absoluta eggs and T. absoluta larvae) with various B. tabaci – T. absoluta prey ratios (Prey complex). Dotted line represents the expected βj value against which calculated βj values for each prey are compared (Student’s t-test, significance difference with expected βj values are indicated by arrows, at the 0.05 level). Different letters for a given B. tabaci – T. absoluta prey ratio indicate significantly different βj values between the three prey types (P > 0.05, ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc analysis).
Figure 4.
Prey preference of M. pygmaeus juvenile predators (based on Manly’s Beta values) depending on initial ratio among prey.
Manly’s Beta values (± SE) for M. pygmaeus juvenile predators in three-prey patches (B. tabaci nymphs, T. absoluta eggs and T. absoluta larvae) with various B. tabaci – T. absoluta prey ratios (Prey complex). Dotted line represents the expected βj value against which calculated βj values for each prey are compared (Student’s t-test, significance difference with expected βj values are indicated by arrows, at the 0.05 level). Different letters for a given B. tabaci – T. absoluta prey ratio indicate significantly different βj values between the three prey types (P > 0.05, ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc analysis).