Hostname: page-component-84b7d79bbc-tsvsl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-27T05:57:09.471Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Searching Behaviour of Two Coccinellid Predators, Coccinella transversalis Fab. and Cheilomenes sexmaculatus Fab., on Egg Plant Infested with Aphis gossypii Glov.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

R. Veeravel*
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar-608 002, India
P. Baskaran
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar-608 002, India
*
Corresponding author: RV.
Get access

Abstract

The searching behaviour of two coccinellid predators, Coccinella transversalis Fab. and Cheilomenes (Menochilus) sexmaculatus Fab. at different hunger levels and larval stage was studied on eggplant infested with Aphis gossypii Glov. Females of both predators required more prey to return to a state of complete satiation. As the period of starvation increased, more aphids were consumed by both the beetles, reaching a maximum at 24 h starvation. In first, second, third and fourth instars of both the predators, the searching time and the number of eggplant leaf veins visited increased with increasing hunger levels. A high positive correlation between searching time and hunger level of tested predators was obtained.

Résumé

Une étude sur le comportement lors de la recherche de proie des larves de deux coccinelles, Coccinella transversalis Fab. et Cheilomenes (Menochilus) sexmaculatus Fab., soumises à des niveaux différents de jeun, a été menée sur les aubergines infestées de puceron Aphis gossypii Glov. Les femelles des deux prédateurs requéraient plus de proie pour paru parvenir à satiété. Au fur et à mesure de la prolongation de la durée de jeun, les deux coléoptères consommaient plus de pucerons et le maximum de prédation était enregistré après 24 heures de leur maintien à jeun. Pour les deux espèces, les larves du premier, deuxième, troisième et quatrième stades de développement la durée de recherche de proie ainsi que le nombre de nervures foliares d'aubergine visitées croissait au fur et à mesure de l'augmentation de la durée de jeun. Une corrélation hautement positive entre le temps de recherche de proie et le niveau de jeun a été obtenue pour les prédateurs testés.

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bond, A. B. (1980) Optimal foraging in a uniform habitat: The search mechanism of the green lacewing. Animal Behaviour 28, 1019.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carter, M. C. and Dixon, A. F. G. (1982) Habitat quality and the foraging behaviour of coccinellid larva, J. Anim. Ecol. 51, 865878.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Draper, N. R. and Smith, H. (1966) Applied Regression Analysis. John Wiley and Sons, New York.Google Scholar
Evans, H. F. (1976) The searching behaviour of Anthocoris confusus (Reuter) in relation to prey density and plant surface topography. Ecol. Entomol. 1, 163169.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frazer, B. D. and Gill, B. (1981) Hunger, movement, and predation of Coccinella califormica on pea aphids in the laboratory and in the field. Canadian Entomol. 113, 10251033.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hodek, I. (1967) Bionomics and ecology of predaceous coccinellidae. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 12, 79104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holling, C. S. (1966) The functional responses of invertebrate predators to prey density. Memoirs of Entomological Society, Canada 48, 186.Google Scholar
Ng, S. M. (1986) The geotactic and phototactic responses of four species of aphidophagous coccinellid larvae, pp. 5768. In Ecology of Aphidophaga (Edited by Hodek, I.). Prague and W. Junk, Dordrecht.Google Scholar
Podoler, H. and Henen, J. (1986) Foraging behaviour of two species of the genus Chilocorus (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera). A comparative study. Phytoparasitica 14, 1123.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rogers, D. (1972) Random search and insect population models. J. Anim. Ecol. 41, 369383.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stubbs, M. (1980) Another look at prey detection by coccinellids. Ecoh Entomol. 5, 179182.CrossRefGoogle Scholar