Macrolophus pygmaeus

(Rambur, 1839)

Macrolophus pygmaeus is a zoophytophagous in the , widely distributed across Europe, North Africa, and Central Asia. It functions as a of agricultural pests including , , , and , while also feeding on sap and extrafloral nectar. The has been extensively studied for its potential as a agent in greenhouse vegetable , particularly for controlling whiteflies and the tomato Tuta absoluta. Males produce distinctive during courtship and male-male interactions.

20170815 Macrolophus pygmeus nymfi Lohja Finland Petro Pynnönen by Petro Pynnönen. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

20170611 Macrolophus pygmeus Lohja Finland Petro Pynnönen by Petro Pynnönen. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

SaundersHemipteraHeteropteraBritishIslesPlate25 by Edward Saunders. Used under a Public domain license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Macrolophus pygmaeus: /məˈkroʊloʊfəs pɪɡˈmiːəs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Morphologically very similar to Macrolophus melanotoma (formerly M. caliginosus); reliable separation requires molecular markers or detailed morphometric analysis of measurements in males. Males of M. pygmaeus can be distinguished using a linear discriminant function combining head measurements. Specific mitochondrial have been developed for unambiguous identification.

Images

Habitat

Associated with herbaceous plants and agricultural , particularly solanaceous crops such as tomato and sweet pepper. Found on plants including Dittrichia viscosa in . Thrives in greenhouse environments and has established in New Zealand.

Distribution

Europe (excluding high north), North Africa, Asia Minor, and Central Asia. and established in New Zealand (first recorded 2007). Widely used in greenhouse programs across Mediterranean region.

Diet

Zoophytophagous: preys on and of Tuta absoluta, eggs of Ephestia kuehniella, of , , Bemisia tabaci, occidentalis, and Tetranychus urticae. Also feeds on sap and consumes extrafloral nectar from plants such as Vicia faba.

Host Associations

Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) - primary
Capsicum annuum (sweet pepper) - secondary
Dittrichia viscosa - source of wild
Vicia faba - extrafloral nectar source
Tuta absoluta - and
Ephestia kuehniella - ; used as in rearing
Myzus persicae -
Macrosiphum euphorbiae -
Bemisia tabaci -
Trialeurodes vaporariorum -
Frankliniella occidentalis - western
Tetranychus urticae - two-spotted
Meloidogyne spp. - induced induced in tomato plants reduces nematode

Life Cycle

stage approximately 13 days at 23°C. Five nymphal with total nymphal development of approximately 20 days at 23°C when feeding on ; development time significantly longer when feeding only on juices. Preoviposition period approximately 6 days. longevity: females approximately 50 days, males longer. 0.0615.

Behavior

Males use during courtship, actively down plants while producing . Males produce a distinctive 'yelp' vibrational sound associated with male-male interactions and physical contact, often emitted while males run away from each other. Females prefer longer duration calls. Exhibits site selection , reducing laying on upper leaves in presence of intraguild competitors. Can complete nymphal development on juices alone, though development is slower than with .

Ecological Role

functioning as agent in agricultural systems. Induces in susceptible tomato plants against root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.), reducing nematode by 37-52% and by 37-53%. Serves as intraguild predator and is subject to , particularly by males on . development increases under avoidance conditions in plants due to reduced defenses and higher .

Human Relevance

Important agent used in of greenhouse vegetable , particularly for and Tuta absoluta control. Mass reared for inoculative releases. Subject to concerns; lethal and behavioral effects of pesticides have been studied. Risk of crop damage from when is scarce, potentially mitigated by .

Similar Taxa

Macrolophus melanotoma with nearly identical ; historically confused with M. pygmaeus, requiring molecular or detailed morphometric identification
Macrolophus costalisCongeneric with similar biology and ; differs in biological parameters including higher consumption rate and faster nymphal development
Nesidiocoris tenuisCo-occurring zoophytophagous with similar ecological role; intraguild competitor and potential intraguild of M. pygmaeus

More Details

Taxonomic confusion

Long confused with Macrolophus melanotoma (formerly M. caliginosus), leading to misidentification in releases and studies. Molecular and morphometric tools now allow reliable separation.

Vibrational communication research

Among the few with documented vibrational courtship signals; research has characterized male 'yelp' signals and female preference for longer call duration.

Systemic resistance induction

Unusual among predatory in ability to induce -mediated against root-feeding nematodes through feeding ; effect limited to susceptible tomato and not observed in Mi1.2 cultivars.