Selecting aggressiveness to improve biological control agents efficiency.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Entomology
• Behavioral Ecology
• Biological Control

Background:

• Omnivorous predators in agroecosystems are vital biological control agents.
• Artificial selection can enhance predator efficiency by targeting relevant traits.
• Aggressiveness in predators may correlate with diet preferences and attack rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the aggressiveness of the damsel bug, *Nabis americoferus*.
• To estimate the heritability of aggressiveness in *Nabis americoferus*.
• To determine if aggressiveness can be enhanced through artificial selection.

Main Methods:

• Two populations of *Nabis americoferus* were subjected to artificial selection for aggressive and docile behaviors over three generations.
• Nine genetically isolated lines were maintained within each population.
• Realized heritability was calculated based on selection response.

Main Results:

• Artificial selection effectively modified aggressiveness in *Nabis americoferus* populations.
• Realized heritability estimates for aggressiveness and docility ranged from 0.16 to 0.27.
• Males exhibited higher aggressiveness than females in one of the two selected populations.

Conclusions:

• Aggressive behavior in *Nabis americoferus* is heritable and can be effectively selected for.
• Selected aggressive strains hold potential for enhanced biological control applications.
• Further research is needed to understand the ecological implications of selected aggressiveness.