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CHANGES IN FEEDING HABITS OF SELECTED NONTARGET AQUATIC INSECTS IN RESPONSE TO LIVE AND BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS VAR. ISRAELENSIS DE BARJAC-KILLED BLACK FLY LARVAE (DIPTERA: SIMULIIDAE)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Richard W. Merritt ,
Mark S. Wipfli  and
R.S. Wotton
Richard W. Merritt
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
Mark S. Wipfli
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
R.S. Wotton
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Medawar Building, University College London, Gower Street, London WCIE 6BT, Great Britain
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Abstract

The effects of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis de Barjac (B.t.i.) on the feeding habits of two black fly predators, Nigronia serricornis (Say) and Acroneuria lycorias (Newman), and a detritivore, Prostoia completa (Walker), were examined. We assessed whether B.t.i.-killed and hot water-killed black fly larvae were less or more desirable to these consumers than live larvae. Nigronia larvae showed no significant differences in predation on larvae within the three categories. Acroneuria nymphs consumed more live than dead prey. Experiments with the detritivore, Prostoia, showed that they preferred dead black fly larvae to live ones. Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis treatment may have little direct effect on nontarget organisms, but these studies indicate that there still may be consequences for predators and detritivores when a viable population of larval black flies is transformed into dead organic matter.

Résumé

Les effets de Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis de Barjac (B.t.i.) sur les habitudes à se nourrir de deux prédateurs de mouches noires, Nigronia serricornis (Say) et Acroneuria lycorias (Newman), et d’un insecte détritivore, Prostoia completa (Walker), ont été étudiés. Nous avons évalué l’importance de l’attirance de larves de mouches noires tuées par B.t.i. ou par l’eau chaude à comparer à des larves vivantes pour ces consommateurs. Les larves de Nigronia n’ont démontré aucune différence significative en ce qui concerne la prédation sur les larves des trois catégories. Les stades immatures d’Acroneuria se sont nourris davantage de larves vivantes que de larves mortes. Les épreuves en utilisant l’insecte détritivore, Prostoia, ont signalé qu’il a préféré des larves mortes aux larves vivantes de mouches noires. L’utilisation de Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis pourrait avoir peu d’effet direct aux organismes non-cibles, mais ces études ont indiqué que des conséquences pourraient exister en ce qui concerne les prédateurs et les détritivores quand une population viable de larves de mouches noires est convertie en matière organique morte.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 123 , Issue 1 , February 1991 , pp. 179 - 185
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1991

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