CONDIÇÕES TÉRMICAS MOLDAM A RESPOSTA FUNCIONAL E NUMÉRICA DE PARASITOIDES
CONDIÇÕES TÉRMICAS MOLDAM A RESPOSTA FUNCIONAL E NUMÉRICA DE PARASITOIDES
-
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.21825090913
-
Palavras-chave: Parasitoides, Controle Biológico, Temperatura, Inimigos Naturais.
-
Keywords: Parasitoids, Biological Control, Temperature, Natural Enemies.
-
Abstract: The functional response of insect parasitoids describes the parasitism rate in relation to host density, while the numerical response expresses parasitoid population growth based on host availability; both are essential parameters for evaluating the efficacy of biological control agents. Understanding these responses allows the prediction of the natural enemies’ performance in different settings, contributing to the planning and success of biological control programs. Among the factors that modulate those responses, the temperature is the most important abiotic element, directly affecting the physiology, behavior, and reproduction of parasitoids. Thermal variations can alter the attack rate, the searching capacity, the developmental time, and the fecundity of parasitoids, either compromising or busting the efficacy of the natural enemy. Thus, studies that consider the possible effects of the temperature on the functional and numerical responses of parasitoids are fundamental to optimizing pest management strategies and foreseeing the performance of the natural enemies under field conditions.
- Silvestre Santos Carvalho
- Christian Sherley Araujo da Silva Torres