Functional Responses of the European Earwig and Two Species of Coccinellids to Densities of Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The functional response data obtained in the laboratory for the major predators of woolly aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum, namely Forficula auricularia L., Parapriasus australasiae (Boisduval) and Harmonia confirmis (Boisduval) all fitted well to the type II model of the Holling disc equation. These predators consumed larger numbers of early than later instars of E. lanigerum within the same time period. Adult H. conformis had a lower instantaneous search rate and handling time and could also consume larger numbers of E. lanigerum than could mature larvae. Overall, F. auricularia was the most efficient predator of E. lanigerum.