FUNCTIONAL RESPONSE OF Nabis punctipennis Blanchard to Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris IN THE LABORATORY

Abstract

This study analyzed the predatory behavior of adult females of Nabis punctipennis Blanchard (Nabidae) towards Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris (Aphididae) in the laboratory in order to determine its functional response and potential as a biological control agent of this aphid. Both hemipterans are common in alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., in Chile. The females of N. punctipennis presented a type II functional response, with a handling time of 2.757 ± 0.1181 h prey-1 and a searching rate of 0.353 ± 0.3214 h-1.