Influence of different species of aphid prey on the immature survival and development of four species of aphidophagous coccinellids (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Abstract

This study was on the effect of three species of aphids (Aphis fabae, Macrosiphoniella sanborni, Brevicoryne brassicae) on the survival, growth and development of the immature stages of the aphidophagous coccinellids Coccinella septempunctata, Ceratomegilla undecimnotata, Propylea quatuordecimpunctata and Oenopia conglobata. The percentage survival was lowest, immature development most prolonged and the adults the lightest when these predators were fed on B. brassicae. In addition, C. septempunctata and C. undecimnotata performed better when fed on M. sanborni (74.1 and 72.0% total immature survival, respectively) than P. quatuordecimpunctata and O. conglobata (25.0 and 13.8% total immature survival, respectively). In addition, the host plant of A. fabae also had a significant effect on the performance of the predators. These coccinellids survived best, had shorter developmental times and were heavier as adults when fed on A. fabae reared on Vicia faba than on Phaseolus vulgaris. These results may be useful for improving the effectiveness of biological control practice and the production of coccinellids in an insectary.

Keywords

• coleoptera
• coccinellidae
• coccinella septempunctata
• ceratomegilla undecimnotata
• propylea quatuordecimpunctata
• oenopia conglobata
• aphididae
• aphis fabae
• macrosiphoniella sanborni
• brevicoryne brassicae
• aphid prey
• survival
• development
• aphid host plant