Larval Life History Responses to Food Deprivation in Three Species of Predatory Lady Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

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

“…This probably occurred because during this instar the predator consumes more prey than in the previous ones (Lanzoni et al 2004), what may represent 80% of their total prey consumption (Hodek & Honek 1996). Phoofolo et al (2008) reported similar results in relation to this study. These authors evaluated the development of coccinellid H. axyridis during the fourth instar when fed with the aphid S. graminum at intervals of one, two, three, four, and ive days.…”

“…In the present study, the development time of the larval and larval-adult stages of C. maculata lengthened as the feeding interval increased, but the pupal period was not in luenced by the feeding interval to which the predator was submitted (Table 1), as observed for C. maculata, H. convergens, and H. axyridis (Phoofolo et al 2008).…”

“…Probably, if C. maculata has a prolonged larval stage under ield conditions, this should provide more opportunity to the coccinellid to ind and consume large quantities of prey. However, it is not advantageous to prolong pupal stage due to an increase in mortality risk by natural enemies and/or weight loss (Phoofolo et al 2008).…”

“…Scarcity of prey can adversely affect the development, survival, and fecundity of lady beetles (Obrycki et al 1998, Agarwala et al 2001, Schüder et al 2004, and food deprivation seems to differently affect each insect species (Phoofolo et al 2008(Phoofolo et al , 2009). …”

“…In agroecosystems, coccinellids are subject to alterations in prey availability according to biotic and abiotic factors (Phoofolo et al 2008). Prey availability in the ecosystems is an important factor that in luences the development and growth of coccinellids, reducing their adult size, what can affect their potential as predators and thus in luence their ef iciency as biological control agents (Agarwala et al 2008, Phoofolo et al 2009.…”