The ubiquitous generalist predator Andrallus spinidens (F.) is found in North Iran, which is dominantly cultivated with rice plants. Live and frozen larvae of Galleria mellonella L. and Ephestia kuehniella Zeller were offered to A. spinidens in order to assess their effects on reproductive performance. Predators consuming either live or frozen larvae of G. mellonella developed and weighed similarly, but those fed on live or frozen larvae of E. kuehniella had significantly different developmental times and body weights. Predators feeding on live larvae of E. kuehniella weighed more than those fed on corresponding frozen prey. The fecundity and longevity of the predator were affected neither by prey species nor by prey freezing; nevertheless, egg hatchability was mainly affected by prey freezing. Generally, the use of frozen larvae can be recommended when live prey are scarce.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.