A CONCEPTUAL MODEL FOR GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, AND REPRODUCTION IN THE LADYBIRD BEETLE, HIPPODAMIA CONVERGENS (COLEOPTERA: COCCINELLIDAE)

Abstract

Can. Ent. 113: 21-33 (1981) A simple model for growth and development of the ladybird-beetle (Hippodamia convergens G-M.) which parritions aphid biomass eaten into components of excretion, assimilation, growth and/or reproduction, and metabolic costs associated with searching and maintenance respiration is reported. All parameters in the model were estimated from simple minimal laboratory experiments, and have biological and/or physical meaning. The effects of predator nutrition on aging, survival, and emigration were also modelled. Most rates in the model for growth, reproduction, and respiration are controlled by the interplay between prey consumption and maximum prey biomass demands. The model for biomass flow is related to standard predator/prey theory.

Stochastic Variation in Food Availability Influences Weight and Age at Maturity

“…The energetics of syrphid larvae are represented with a "metabolic pool" (Gutierrez et al, 1981). The contents of the pool are equivalent to gut content.…”

Energy Acquisition and Allocation in Plants and Insects: A Hypothesis for the Possible Role of Hormones in Insect Feeding Patterns

“…In addition, the same functional response model from predation theory is used to predict photosynthetic rates in plants and predation and herbivory rates in insects (Gutierrez et al 1981). The goal of the work is to examine the common patterns of energy allocation in widely separated taxonomic groups.…”

“…To examine this requires the development of models of multi-trophic level interactions. The development of multi-trophic level models has been a goal of many population ecologists (May 1982;Gilbert et al 1976;De Angelis et al 1975;Gutierrez et al 1981;Gutierrez, Pizzarniglio et al 1984).…”

An overview of a systems model of cassava and cassava pests in Africa

“…Gutierrez et al (1981Gutierrez et al ( , 1984bGutierrez et al ( , 1987 used this model to predict photosynthetic rates in plants, as well as predation and herbivory rates in arthropods. Here it has been extended to predict water and nitrogen acquisition rates in cassava.…”

“…demand), and the processes of herbivory and predation (parasitism) are conceptually similar (Gutierrez et al, 1981). The functional response model is normally used to describe the relationship between the rate of prey capture per predator and prey density.…”