Project properties
Title <b> (NEW!!!) What do omnivores eat? Feeding behaviour of omnivorous predators.
Group Entomology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 24-39
Supervisor(s) Nina Zhang
Examiner(s) Erik Poelman, Marcel Dicke
Contact info nina.zhang@wur.nl
Begin date 2024/06/01
End date 2025/12/31
Description Omnivorous insect predators have been increasingly used for biological pest control in the past decades. As omnivores, they feed both on plants and herbivore pests. The advantage of omnivorous predators is that they can establish and maintain their population by feeding on plants when prey density is low. We found that this plant feeding can induce plant defences that negatively affect the performance of herbivores and alter behaviour of other natural enemies. Thus, the omnivores can serve dual functions in biocontrol, as predators and plant defence vaccinators. However, we know little about how these omnivores feed on the plants, which part of the plant tissues, and whether the plant feeding behavior is altered by different host plant quality and as well as when the prey are offered.

In this project, you will study: how an omnivore insect feed on plants of different quality when preys are offered or not. You will look at whether and how nymph, male and female omnivores feed different on plants. You will use EPG to study the feeding behaviour. You will make digital images to determine the position of the stylet tips inside the plant tissues.
Used skills insect behaviour, behavioural ecology, trophic interactions
Requirements For doing a BSc-thesis at Entomology, there are no requirements for specific courses.
For doing a MSc-thesis or Research Practice at Entomology, the following requirements apply: ENT-30806 + a second ENT-course (preferably ENT-30306 or ENT-50806 or ENT-53806). As an alternative for the second ENT-course, PHP-30806 or BHE-30306 can be selected.
For doing an Internship, the following requirements apply: ENT-30806.
Note:
1) these requirements do not apply for MBI students;
2) MBI students should check the requirements for doing an ENT MSc-thesis, Research Practice or Internship in the study programme of their specialisation.