Consideration of behavioural types of generalist arthropod predators is important for biological control

Abstract Consistent inter-individual differences in behaviour (behavioural types, BTs) are widespread across taxa and can strongly influence ecological dynamics. BTs can shape predator–prey interactions and the structure of food webs, with important implications for the effectiveness of generalist predators in biological control. In this review, we synthesise current knowledge on how the BTs of natural enemies shape predator–prey dynamics and discuss their relevance in the context of biological control. Predators’ BTs determine their trophic niches, and consequently the suppression efficacy of different BTs may vary among pest species. BTs also influence intraguild predation and can thus affect a predator’s position within a food web. Furthermore, BTs modulate both the capture rate and numerical response of predators to pest populations, often in opposing directions. BTs may also shape the non-consumptive effects imposed by predators on pests, although this aspect remains poorly studied. In addition, the BTs of predators can influence food-web stability in agroecosystems and determine the strength of top-down control, potentially triggering trophic cascades. BTs of predators can shape the community composition, expecting less aggressive, shyer, and less active but behaviourally more diverse populations of predators in crops under organic management situated in a heterogeneous landscape in comparison to crops under conventional management in a homogeneous landscape. Overall, the ecological consequences of predator BTs for food-web dynamics remain substantially understudied, yet understanding these effects is crucial for explaining the observed variation in both the magnitude and direction of impacts that generalist predators exert on pest populations and crop performance.