The importance of generalist predators (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Staphylinidae) in the management of millipede populations in sweet potato and carrot fields

The predatory beetle assemblage of Ontario carrot and sweet potato fields was described and assessed in the interest of identifying species important to the control of the emerging pest millipede Cylindroiulus caeruleocinctus (Wood). Field surveys and laboratory feeding studies sought to identify dominant members of the assemblage that consumed millipedes and spatiotemporally co-occurred with them. Pterostichus melanarius (Illiger) was found to be an important natural enemy of C. caeruleocinctus and other dominant carabid species are suggested for future investigation. The role of Staphylinidae in millipede control could not be elucidated, likely because of low trapping efficiency. The results of this study are an important foundational step towards developing a successful IPM strategy in the future.