Dietary complementation across life stages in the polyphagous lady beetle Coleomegilla maculata

Abstract

We investigated the life history consequences of changes in diet between larval and adult life stages in the polyphagous lady beetle Coleomegilla maculata DeGeer (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Beetles were reared on three larval diets: greenbug, Schizaphis graminum Rondani (Homoptera: Aphididae), eggs of the flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), and bee pollen. The reproductive performance of females was then evaluated on an adult diet of either greenbug or moth eggs. Moth eggs appeared to be the most suitable diet for larvae, yielding the largest adults, and pollen the least suitable, resulting in the smallest adults and greatly extended developmental time. Pollen‐reared beetles tended to have lower fecundity and fertility than those reared on animal protein, regardless of adult diet. Female fitness was generally increased by a change in diet upon emergence to the alternative source of animal protein, suggesting that dietary complementation occurred across life stages. Among females reared on greenbug, a change of diet to moth eggs reduced the period required for production of 12 clutches and increased egg fertility compared to continued feeding on greenbug. Among females reared on moth eggs, a change of diet to greenbug increased fecundity compared to continued feeding on moth eggs. Among females fed an adult diet of greenbug, those fed moth eggs as larvae had faster production of 12 clutches and higher fecundity. We discuss these novel results in the context of coccinellid life history and ecology and their potential implications for other insects that are predatory as both larvae and adults.

Effects of diet on development and reproductive fitness of two predatory coccinellids (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

“…The finding that E. kuehniella eggs are a much better diet for development than for reproduction in both ladybird species supports the argument by Michaud (2005) that larvae and adults of ladybird beetles may have different nutritional requirements. This was also observed in Coleomegilla maculata De Geer (Michaud & Jyoti, 2008;Riddick et al, 2014) and Hippodamia convergens Guerin (Michaud, 2000). Despite the wide variation in development times and oviposition output, diet had no significant effect on egg fertility.…”

Biological aspects of Eriopis connexa (Germar) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) fed on different insect pests of maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum [Sorghum bicolor L. (Moench.)]

“…The similar duration of the prepupa stage between treatments shows that prey were adequate for E. connexa, because inadequate resources for growth and development can compromise insect development (Scriber and Slansky, 1981;Thompson, 1999;Michaud and Jyoti, 2007). Duration of prepupa was similar to that of C. sanguinea with M. persicae, Megoura viciae (Buckton), Aphis gossypii (Glover) and Aphis fabae (Scopoli) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) (Isikber and Copland, 2002).…”

“…The development period of Coccinellidae can be higher with poor nutritional quality diets or with unsatisfactory quantity (Michaud and Jyoti, 2007). In addition, the lack of some nutrients such as aminoacids may increase the duration of the immature stage of insects (Hacker and Bertness, 1996;Bottrell et al, 1998).…”

“…Aphidophagous Coccinellidae has better development when fed on aphids than with other prey, however colonies of these prey represent ephemeral resources, which can be numerous, but for short periods (Michaud and Jyoti, 2007). Larvae of these predators may complete their development with prey that are not aphids but this is poorly studied, although eggs of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera have been used as alternative prey for them (Silva et al, 2009(Silva et al, , 2010(Silva et al, , 2012.…”

Effects of Food Deprivation on the Development of Coleomegilla maculata (De Geer) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

“…Studies on the development and reproduction of C. maculata have been determined on several kind of diets such as eggs of Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), aphids as Aphis gossypii Glover and Schizaphis graminum Rondani (Hemiptera: Aphididae) (Rondon et al 2006, Michaud & Jyoti 2008 and pollen (Michaud & Grant 2005, Pilorget et al 2010. However, Lundgren et al (2004) pointed out that C. maculata reaches the adult stage and it is able to reproduce on a diet composed solely of pollen and water.…”