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Ecology of and aphid predation by the European earwig Forficula auricularia L. in grassland and barley

Ecology of and aphid predation by the European earwig Forficula auricularia L. in grassland and barley
Ecology of and aphid predation by the European earwig Forficula auricularia L. in grassland and barley

In recent years there has been increased interest in the role of polyphagous predators in restraining cereal aphid populations at low levels where damage is likely to be slight. The purpose of the work presented in this thesis was to study aspects of the biology of the European earwig under the conditions of southern England and to investigate its behaviour and potential as an aphid predator in grass and barley fields, in the laboratory and the field. The field work involved sampling earwigs throughout the year. The main sampling methods used for trapping earwigs were pitfall and board traps. Occasionally other methods were used. Traps were placed in the hedge and inside the crop to determine earwig phenology and distribution in the field. Studies showed the importance of the hedge for the breeding and development of earwig populations in grass and barley. Sampling of aphids in grass was made by D-Vac (Dietrich Vacuum insect net) and in barley by visual counting of the number of aphids per tiller. The main components of the diet of earwigs in grass, barley and inside the hedge were analysed throughout the year. Aspects of the potentiality of the European earwig as an aphid predator were evaluated in the laboratory through its searching behaviour, response to prey aggregations, prey capture efficiency and functional response. An evaluation of the possible impact of the European earwig as an aphid predator was made both in grass and in barley. (D68632/86)

University of Southampton
Carrillo, José Roberto
Carrillo, José Roberto

Carrillo, José Roberto (1985) Ecology of and aphid predation by the European earwig Forficula auricularia L. in grassland and barley. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

In recent years there has been increased interest in the role of polyphagous predators in restraining cereal aphid populations at low levels where damage is likely to be slight. The purpose of the work presented in this thesis was to study aspects of the biology of the European earwig under the conditions of southern England and to investigate its behaviour and potential as an aphid predator in grass and barley fields, in the laboratory and the field. The field work involved sampling earwigs throughout the year. The main sampling methods used for trapping earwigs were pitfall and board traps. Occasionally other methods were used. Traps were placed in the hedge and inside the crop to determine earwig phenology and distribution in the field. Studies showed the importance of the hedge for the breeding and development of earwig populations in grass and barley. Sampling of aphids in grass was made by D-Vac (Dietrich Vacuum insect net) and in barley by visual counting of the number of aphids per tiller. The main components of the diet of earwigs in grass, barley and inside the hedge were analysed throughout the year. Aspects of the potentiality of the European earwig as an aphid predator were evaluated in the laboratory through its searching behaviour, response to prey aggregations, prey capture efficiency and functional response. An evaluation of the possible impact of the European earwig as an aphid predator was made both in grass and in barley. (D68632/86)

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Published date: 1985

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Local EPrints ID: 461703
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/461703
PURE UUID: 3bdcf501-8e3a-4529-84ac-f7c9d47b8d3c

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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 18:52
Last modified: 04 Jul 2022 18:52

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Contributors

Author: José Roberto Carrillo

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