Bonato Olivier auteur aut IRD Couton L. auteur aut IRD Fargues J. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access A study of predation choices of Macrolophus caliginosus Wagner (Heteroptera: Miridae) late instars and adults, when offered various developmental stages (eggs and nymphs) of the recently established whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), was made based on two preference indices. In addition, prey choices of late instars when presented with three ratios of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) and B. tabaci at a similar developmental stage (eggs, young or late instars) were assessed. M. caliginosus preferred older nymphs of B. tabaci than any other stage. It also chose T. vaporariorum over B. tabaci, unless the latter consisted of > 75% of the available prey. These results suggested that M. caliginosus might interfere with parasitoids such as Encarsia, Eretniocerus, or Amitus spp. because all three species emerge from the host pupal case. Furthermore, in mixed infestations, M. caliginosus preference for T. vaporariorum might either negatively affect the control of B. tabaci, or, contrarily, enhance the predator population, before a B. tabaci outbreak occurs in the greenhouse. specialized feeding preference Macrolophus caliginosus Bemisia tabaci Trialeurodes vaporariorum 076 99 4 1143-1151 2006 0022-0493 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010035735 10.1603/0022-0493-99.4.1143 0022-0493 [F B010035735] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010035735 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2006/09/010035735.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2006-10-06 2017-08-23 fdi:010035735 fre