Coincidental intraguild predation among natural enemies of the South American tomato leafminer Phthorimaea absoluta
Data files
Oct 14, 2025 version files 15.41 KB
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Consumption_time_data.csv
688 B
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IGP_choice_data.csv
2.09 KB
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IGP_non-choice_data.csv
1.90 KB
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Olfactometer_data.csv
7.21 KB
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README.md
2.81 KB
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Time_first_attack_data.csv
721 B
Abstract
Studying how natural enemies interact within a tri-trophic system is fundamental to understanding the mechanisms that promote coexistence and community stability. Coincidental intraguild predation (IGPc)—where predators consume prey parasitized by parasitoids—can disrupt trophic structure and compromise parasitoid persistence. Yet, the extent to which predators discriminate between parasitized from unparasitized hosts remains unclear, particularly in generalist predators. In this study, we examine IGPc in a tritrophic system involving the omnivorous mirid predator Tupiocoris cucurbitaceus, the larval endoparasitoid Pseudapanteles dignus, and their shared herbivore host Phthorimaea absoluta. Mirid bugs are increasingly used in integrated pest management due to their efficiency and versatility as biological control agents, but their potential for intraguild predation raises concerns about their compatibility with parasitoids. Using no-choice and choice predation assays, we found that T. cucurbitaceus consumed significantly fewer parasitized larvae, particularly when parasitism was advanced, and required longer handling times for parasitized prey. Olfactometer assays revealed that females preferred volatiles from plants infested with unparasitized or recently parasitized larvae, but showed no attraction to plants with hosts parasitized for 72 hours. These findings indicate that predator foraging is shaped by both direct cues from prey and indirect cues mediated by herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs), and that discrimination improves as the parasitoid develops. By selectively avoiding older parasitized hosts, T. cucurbitaceus reduces antagonistic intraguild interactions, which may facilitate the stable coexistence of predators and parasitoids exploiting the same herbivore resource.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.k6djh9wm6
Description of the data and file structure
The study investigated intraguild predation (IGP) behavior of Tupiocoris cucurbitaceus females through several assays using *Phthorimaea absoluta *larvae at different parasitism conditions by the parasitoid Pseudapanteles dignus. In the non-choice IGP assay, females were offered one of three larval types: (1) unparasitized, (2) parasitized for <24 hours, or (3) parasitized for 72 hours. The response variable was the number of larvae consumed. In the choice IGP assay, females were simultaneously offered all three larval types, and consumption was again recorded. The response variable was the number of each type of larva consumed.
In the time to first attack assay, the response variable was the time (minutes) taken by a female to initiate an attack, with choices between unparasitized larvae and those parasitized for <24 hours. In the consumption time assay, the time (minutes) required to consume each type of larva was recorded. Finally, in the olfactometry assay, female choice was assessed in three setups: (1) clean plant vs. plant with an unparasitized larva, (2) plant with an unparasitized larva vs. plant with a <24 h parasitized larva, and (3) plant with an unparasitized larva vs. plant with a 72 h parasitized larva. The response variable was the female's choice (1) or lack thereof (0).
Files and variables
File: Consumption_time_data.csv
Variables
- Treatments: unparasitized larvae and larvae with <24 h of parasitism
- T_consume_min: response variable, time measured in minutes
File: IGP_choice_data.csv
Variables
- Treatment: unparasitized, parasitized for <24 hours, and parasitized for 72 hours offered simultaneously
- consumed: response variable, number of each type of larva consumed
File: IGP_non-choice_data.csv
Variables
- treatment: (1) unparasitized, (2) parasitized for <24 hours, or (3) parasitized for 72 hours
- consumed: response variable, number of larvae consumed
File: Time_first_attack_data.csv
Variables
- Treatments: unparasitized larvae and larvae with <24 h of parasitism
- time_first_attack: response variable, time in minutes that the predator took to attack the first larva
File: Olfactometer_data.csv
Variables
- Assays: (1) clean plant vs. plant with an unparasitized larva, (2) plant with an unparasitized larva vs. plant with a <24 h parasitized larva, and (3) plant with an unparasitized larva vs. plant with a 72 h parasitized larva
- Treatment: different combinations
- election: response variable 1(yes), 0(no)