DESNEUX , Nicolas

Induced defenses mediate interactions between parasites sharing the same host plant, but the outcomes of these interactions are challenging to predict because of spatiotemporal variation in plant responses and differences in defense pathways elicited by herbivores or pathogens. Dissecting these mediating factors necessitates an approach that...

Invasive pest species may strongly affect biotic interactions in agro-ecosystems. The ability of generalist predators to prey on new invasive pests may result in drastic changes in the population dynamics of local pest species owing to predator-mediated indirect interactions among prey. On a short time scale, the nature and strength of such...

Honeydew i.e., the sugar-rich excretion of phloem-sap feeders, is the most available sugar source in agroeco-systems which enables parasitoids to increase their fitness. For the parasitoids of honeydew-producing insects, honeydew is associated with host presence, suggesting that parasitoids can find carbohydrate sources and hosts at the same...

Optimal habitat selection is essential for species survival in ecosystems, and interspecific competition is a key ecological mechanism for many observed species association patterns. Specialized animal species are commonly affected by resource and interference competition with generalist and/or omnivorous competitors, so avoidance behavior...

This study examined the effects of various levels of nitrogen inputs (optimal, insufficient and excessive) and water inputs (optimal, low drought and high drought) to tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) on survival and development of an invasive tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meytick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Plant growth i.e. plant...

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Omnivorous Heteroptera predators play important roles in biological control of a wide range of pest insects. Their predation could be influenced by various biotic or abiotic factors. Here we examined the effects of nitrogen and water inputs to tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) on the predation strength of the omnivore Macrolophus pygmaeus...

The tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) has recently invaded Mediterranean countries and is a major pest in tomato crops. Trichogrammatid oophagous parasitoids have shown promising potential for controlling the pest before the yield decreases in the greenhouse. In protected tomato crops (greenhouse), mirid...

Parasitoids inhabiting agro-ecosystems may be largely affected by bottom-up forces, notably owing to abiotic stresses, and this may modulate parasitoids preference (host acceptance) and/or their performance (host suitability). The availability of water is a key factor impacting plant quality and in determining changes in plant-insect community...

International audience

International audience