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Unveiling the biocontrol potential of Harmonia axyridis: functional response to eggs of S. litura and S. frugiperda

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 October 2025

Arzlan Abbas Open the ORCID record for Arzlan Abbas [Opens in a new window] ,
Ayesha Iftikhar ,
Muhammad Yasir Ali ,
Hasnain Ali ,
Sarah I. Othman ,
Rasha E. Abo-Eleneen ,
Faisal Hafeez Open the ORCID record for Faisal Hafeez [Opens in a new window]  and
Chen Ri Zhao
Arzlan Abbas
Affiliation:
College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
Ayesha Iftikhar
Affiliation:
Entomological Research Institute, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, PB, Pakistan
Muhammad Yasir Ali
Affiliation:
Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China MARA-CABI Joint Laboratory for Bio-safety, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Hasnain Ali
Affiliation:
College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
Sarah I. Othman
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Rasha E. Abo-Eleneen
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Bnei-Suef University, Bnei-Suef, Egypt
Faisal Hafeez
Affiliation:
Entomological Research Institute, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, PB, Pakistan Wheat Research Institute, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, PB, Pakistan
Chen Ri Zhao*
Affiliation:
College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
*
Corresponding author: Chen Ri Zhao; Email: rizhaochen@jlau.edu.cn
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Abstract

Understanding predator-prey dynamics is pivotal for advancing sustainable pest management strategies. This study examined the functional response of Harmonia axyridis across six developmental stages when preying upon the eggs of two destructive lepidopteran pests including Spodoptera litura and Spodoptera frugiperda. Using logistic regression and Holling’s disc equation, a clear Type II functional response was observed across all stages except first instars, indicating a density-dependent predation pattern constrained by handling time at higher prey densities. Adult females consistently emerged as the most potent predators, demonstrating the highest effectiveness of predation (1.591 on S. litura; 1.736 on S. frugiperda) and maximum predation rates (113.7 and 120.9 eggs, respectively). Adult males and fourth instar larvae also showed high predation capacities, with maximum consumption nearing 99 and 95 eggs. In contrast, first instars exhibited minimal predatory potential (effectiveness <0.017; maximum consumption <10 eggs), highlighting the critical role of developmental maturity in predation performance. Notably, predation on S. frugiperda eggs slightly surpassed that on S. litura, suggesting host-specific traits may modulate predator efficiency. The functional response curves confirmed a classic decelerating intake rate at high prey densities, characteristic of Type II predators. These findings affirm the high consumptive potential of H. axyridis, particularly adult females, as efficient natural enemies against Spodoptera spp. eggs, and provide actionable insights for their integration into targeted, stage-specific biological control programs.

Keywords

attack ratehandling timepredator-prey interactionSpodoptera species

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Type
Research Paper
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Bulletin of Entomological Research , First View , pp. 1 - 10
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© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press.

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Footnotes

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These authors contributed equally to this paper.

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