Studies on the functional responses of Bdellodes japonicus (Ehara) (Acari: Bdellidae) to Hypogastrura communis Folsom (Collembola: Hypogastruridae)

Abstract Bdellodes japonicus (Ehara) was an efficient predator of Hypogastrura communis Folsom. It could prey on all stages of the prey, except the egg, but it preferred to prey on young nymphs. One adult female of B. japonicus could consume 7.9 individuals of adult female of H. communis in one day, and one adult male predator could consume 6.5 prey individuals. The equation of predation functional response of adult female predator to adult female prey was Na = 0.9890N0 (1 + 0.0579N0), with the parameters a (0.9890), Th (0.0585 day) and Na max (17.09 individuals/day). The equation of predation functional response of adult male predator to adult female prey was Na = 0.8357 N0 (1 + 0.0618 N0), with the parameters a (0.8537), Th (0.0724 day) and Na max (13.81 individuals/day).