BioControl (2001) 46, 455-467

A.A. Isikber and M.J.W. Copland (2001)
Food consumption and utilisation by larvae of two coccinellid predators, Scymnus levaillanti and Cycloneda sanguinea, on cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii
BioControl 46 (4), 455-467
Abstract: This study was carried out under laboratory conditions at various temperatures to compare food consumption and efficiency of conversion of food to body mass for larvae of two coccinellid predators, Scymnus levaillanti Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Cycloneda sanguinea (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), which differ in body size and feeding method. The consumption rate of each larval stage of both species increased with increasing temperature. The consumption rate for total development (from egg hatch to pupation) of S. levaillanti was found to be 22.9 aphids per day at 30°C. It was much higher for C. sanguinea (975.1 aphids per day at 25°C and 1066 aphids per day at 30°C). The larger species, C. sanguinea was more voracious at each temperature than the smaller species, S. levaillanti. The larvae of S. levaillanti, employing pre-oral digestion, were more efficient in converting food to body mass than larvae of C. sanguinea, which used chewing and sucking. The fourth instars of both species were less efficient in converting food to body mass than were their first three instars. It was concluded that body size and feeding method of coccinellid predators play an important role in food consumption and efficiency of conversion of food to body mass.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Ali A. Isikber, Michael J.W. Copland

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aphis gossypii
Cycloneda sanguinea (predator)	Aphis gossypii
Scymnus levaillanti (predator)	Aphis gossypii