Using Temperature-Mediated Functional Response Models to Predict the Impact of Coleomegilla maculata1 (DeGeer) Adults and 3rd-Instar Larvae on Green Peach Aphids23

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Abstract
The effects of temperature and prey density on Coleomegilla maculata (DeGeer) feeding on Myzus persicae (Sulzer) were determined to quantify their impact on the C. maculata-M. persicae interaction. Seven temperatures ranging from 15.6 to 32.2° C were employed in the study. Nine prey densities per temperature and two predator and prey age classes per prey density were also used. An enzyme kinetic equation was used to describe the change with temperature in the green peach aphid intrinsic rates of increase and the C. maculata larval and adult search rates. The larval and adult handling rates were determined to be linearly related to temperature over the range studied. The short-term impact of C. maculata adults and 3rd-instar larvae on green peach aphids was simulated by substituting these equations into two aphid growth rate models. Both models predicted that C. maculata 3rd-instar larvae and adults would be most effective in reducing the aphid population in temperatures above 29° C.