| Zoophytophagous heteropterans are thought to make good biological control agents because their plant feeding habit not only enables them to colonize crop systems before pest infestation, but also enables them to survive when prey densities are low. However, plant feeding may cause crop damage. Therefore, it is important to study the relationship between plant feeding and prey feeding in zoophytophagous heteropterans before they are employed in pest management.; The study looked at three aspects of zoophytophagy in heteropterans: (1) the functional relationship between plant feeding and prey feeding, (2) the influence of plant feeding on predation and foraging behaviour and (3) the functional relationship between plant feeding and prey density. Using predictions from three conceptual plant-prey feeding models, I tested which model best represents the plant-prey feeding relationship in xylem-feeding zoophytophagous Heteroptera. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
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