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Influence of Prey Deprivation on Biological Attributes of Pale Morphs of the Lady Beetle Propylea Dissecta (Mulsant)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

Omkar*
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226007, India
Ahmad Pervez
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226007, India
*
Corresponding author: O. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Adult pale morphs of an aphidophagous lady beetle, Propylea dissecta (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), were reared on a non-insect diet for periods ranging from 0 to 30 days after eclosion. The prey-deprived females, when provided with the cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch (Homoptera: Aphididae), laid fertile eggs, indicating that they had retained their reproductive potential. The oviposition period, post-oviposition period, fecundity, viability of eggs and longevity of females decreased significantly, whereas the pre-oviposition period and developmental period of progeny increased significantly with an increase in the duration of prey deprivation. There was no significant effect on the mean reproductive rate (16.14 ± 0.53 to 18.03 ± 0.67 eggs per day) at various prey deprivation levels, although the reproductive output and oviposition duration decreased. These findings indicate that lady beetle females can withstand the stress of prey non-availability, by switching to alternative food sources and reproducing when essential prey becomes available again.

Résumé

Les formes claires de l'adulte de la coccinelle aphidiphage, Propylea dissecta (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), ont été élevées sur un milieu dépourvu d'insectes pendant une période comprise entre 0 et 30 jours après leur émergence. Lorsque les femelles ainsi privées de proies ont été placées en présence de puceron du niébé Aphis craccivora Koch (Homoptera: Aphididae), elles ont pondu des oeufs fertiles, indiquant qu'elles ont conservé leur potentiel reproducteur. La période ovipositionnelle, la période post-ovipositionnelle, la fécondité, la viabilité des oeufs et la longévité des femelles diminuent significativement alors que la période pré-ovipositionnelle et la durée de développement des larves augmentent significativement avec l'augmentation de la durée de privation en proies. Il n'y a pas d'effet significatif sur le taux moyen de reproduction (compris entre 16,14 ± 0,53 et 18,03 ± 0,67 oeufs par jour) pour les différents niveaux de privation de proies, bien que le rendement reproductif et la durée d'oviposition diminuent. Ces résultats indiquent que les femelles coccinelles peuvent endurer une période de privation de proies, en s'adaptant à une source de nourriture alternative et en se reproduisant quand les proies essentielles sont à nouveau disponibles.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2003

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