Cannibalism in
B
uchananiella whitei
(
H
emiptera:
Yuzhi Gong, Keshi Zhang, Qiang Xuan, Zhi‐Qiang Zhang Abstract
BACKGROUND
Cannibalism and intraguild predation (IGP) are common interactions among predators that can influence the effectiveness of biological control agents. The minute pirate bug Buchananiella whitei is a recently commerciali sed biocontrol agent in New Zealand, but its intraspecific predation and interactions with potentially co‐occurring predatory mites remain poorly understood. This study examined cannibalism within B. whitei , as well as IGP between first‐instar B. whitei nymphs and adult females of seven predatory mite species (Phytoseiidae and Laelapidae), using observations in enclosed setups with emphasis on the role of extraguild prey availability (dried fruit mite Carpoglyphus lactis ).
RESULTS
Both cannibalism and IGP were observed, and their occurrence was strongly influenced by extraguild prey availability. No predation on B. whitei eggs was observed in either cannibalism or IGP. Cannibalism occurred only in adult‐nymph interactions, and its prevalence was greatly reduced by the presence of extraguild prey. IGP was more frequent in the absence of extraguild prey. First‐instar B. whitei nymphs preyed on most predatory mite species, but reciprocal predation was only observed with Neoseiulus cucumeris and Stratiolaelaps scimitus . Differences in body size among predator species partly contributed to the observed outcomes.
CONCLUSION
These findings indicate that although cannibalism and IGP can occur in systems involving B. whitei , their ecological significance is probably limited when alternative prey are available. Predatory mites are therefore unlikely to substantially suppress B. whitei populations. A better understanding of these trophic interactions will improve the use of B. whitei and other natural enemies in biological control programs. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.