Abstract:
Laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of prey
availability on prey consumption, survivorship and oviposition of the
southern pine beetle predator, Thanasimus dubius Fabricius. Although
prey consumption rates were significantly affected by the sex, size and
ovipositional status of the predator, it was found through correlation
analyses that predator longevity was largely determined by the.availability
of prey. Predator age was not found to significantly affect
prey consumption rates. Oviposition increased directly with prey consumption
to an asymptote determined by the feeding and/or ovipositional
capacity of the predator. Measurements of field populations of predator
and prey under epidemic conditions suggested that predator populations
are not large enough to prevent infestation and killing of susceptible
trees.
