Gut content analysis using molecular techniques can help elucidate predator-prey relationships in situations in which other methodologies are not feasible, such as in the case of trophic interactions between minute species such as mites. We designed species-specific primers for a mite community occurring in Spanish citrus orchards comprising two herbivores, the Tetranychidae Tetranychus urticae and Panonychus citri, and six predatory mites belonging to the Phytoseiidae family; these predatory mites are considered to be these herbivores’ main biological control agents. These primers were successfully multiplexed in a single PCR to test the range of predators feeding on each of the two prey species. We estimated prey DNA detectability success over time (DS50), which depended on the predator-prey combination and ranged from 0.2 to 18 h. These values were further used to weight prey detection in field samples to disentangle the predatory role played by the most abundant predators (i.e. Euseius stipulatus and Phytoseiulus persimilis). The corrected predation value for E. stipulatus was significantly higher than for P. persimilis. However, because this 1.5-fold difference was less than that observed regarding their sevenfold difference in abundance, we conclude that P. persimilis is the most effective predator in the system; it preyed on tetranychids almost five times more frequently than E. stipulatus did. The present results demonstrate that molecular tools are appropriate to unravel predator-prey interactions in tiny species such as mites, which include important agricultural pests and their predators.
PROBIT_RAW_DATA_PREY_T.URTICAE
Raw data corresponding to the probit curves multiplex PCR detection of the tetranychid prey Tetranychus urticae in three different predators: Euseius stipulatus, Phytoseiulus persimilis and Neouseiulus californicus
PROBIT_RAW_DATA_PREY_P.CITRI
Raw data corresponding to the probit curves multiplex PCR detection of the tetranychid prey Panonychus citri in three different predators: Euseius stipulatus, Phytoseiulus persimilis and Neouseiulus californicus
RAW_DATA_FIELD_SAMPLING
Raw data corresponding to the multiplex PCR identification of the target phytoseiid predators and their tetranychid preys in field samples
FIG_1_PROBIT_DATA
Data corresponding to the probit curves of Figure 1
FIG_2_RELATIVE_QUANTIFICATION_OF_PREY_DNA_BY_QPCR
Data corresponding to the relative quantification of prey (Tetranychus urticae) and predator (Phytoseiulus persimilis) DNA by qPCR from Figure 2.
FIG_3_MOLECULAR_DETECTION_OF_TETRANYCHID_PREY_IN_FIELD_PREDATORS
Summary of the molecular detection data of tetranychid prey on phytoseiid predators in field samples for the Figure 3.
Fig_S1_AMPLIFICATION_MULTIPLEX_PCR_ALL_SPECIES
Peak Scaner lecture of the target species included in this study and represented in Figure S1
PCR_SENSITIVITY
Peak Scaner lecture of the serial dilutions of the target tetranychid preys Tetranychus urticae and Panonychus citri. Data only include the number of dilutions with detection for each species.
SENSITIVITY_OF_DNA_TEMPLATE_MIX
Peak Scaner lecture of the multiplex PCR amplification reaction using a DNA template mix with all the target species included in this study.
TABLE_3_PERCENTAGE_SUCCESFUL_MULTIPLE_PREY_DETECTION
Raw data of successful prey detection for E. stipulatus and P. persimilis depending on the order of the prey species offered in the multiple prey assay from Table 3.
TABLE_4_TIME_INVESTED_AND_SUCCESFUL_ENCOUNTER_OF_E_STIPULATUS
Raw data of the time invested and succesful encounters of Euseius stipulatus for the multiple prey assay from Table 4.
TABLE_4_TIME_INVESTED_AND_SUCCESFUL_ENCOUNTER_OF_P_PERSIMILIS
Raw data of the time invested and succesful encounters of Phytoseiulus persimilis for the multiple prey assay from Table 4.
TABLE_5_CORRECTED_PREDATION_VALUES
Summary of the prey detection data in field samples for three phytoseiid predator species: Euseius stipulatus, Phytoseiulus persimilis and Neoseiulus californicus for determining the corrected predation values of Table 5.