Food Preference of Coccinella undecimpunctata L. ( Coleoptera : Coccinellidae ) and the Effect of Insect Host Densities on its Biological Aspects

Abstract

A series of field experiments have been conducted to study the preference of Coccinella undecimpunctata L. to insect hosts during the period 2008-2009 in Babylon Governorate, The results show the following : - The adults show a highest preference for bean aphids followed by other insect hosts . The average number of A fabae consumed per day increased daily and reaches highest number 280 insects / day . and the lowest average of 15 insects day . Adults longevity and number of eggs / female increase when increasing the aphids density supplied daily. The highest longevity of adult and higher number of eggs 81.33 days and 2160 eggs, respectively .When the predator is fed on an insect of 300 aphid day. While the minimum age of the adult was 11days when is fed on 15 aphid days .

Keywords

• food preference
• coccinella undecimpunctata l
• insect host