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Predation Efficiency and Prey Size Preference of Lady Bird Beetle, Menochilus Sexmaculatus (f.) on Bean Aphid, Aphis Craccivora Koch

A.T.M.F. Islam
Institute of Food and Radiation Biology Atomic Energy Research Establishment G.P.O. Box 3787, Dhaka 1000 Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Predation efficiency and prey size preferences of M. sexmaculatus were studied on bean aphids. The larva consumed of 116.70 adult and 369.00 nymph aphids in its larval period. A male beetle of its life span consumed 565.20 adult and 2313.00 nymph aphids as compared to 790.40 adult and 3033.40 nymph aphids consumed by a female beetle. The predatory larva started feeding 6.6 adult and 17.9 nymph aphids per day after egg hatching which increased to 36.3 for adult and 100.6 for nymph aphids on the fifth day and then dropped down to 4.7 adult and 22.3 nymph aphids on seventh day. The feeding capacity of nymph aphid was fluctuated up to 23rd day from first day after emergence from 114.6 to 74.4 by male and 155.20 to 78.4 by female and the rate of feeding declined from 24th day. The feeding rate of adult aphids fluctuated from 50.20 to 21.4 for male and 56.40 to 29.60 for female beetle from first to 15th day and then declined. Both the predatory larvae and adult beetles of either sex preferred to prey upon medium sized aphids having 0.4-0.9 mm body width. Key words: Predation, Efficiency, Preference, Menochilus sexmaculatus, Aphis craccivora.

Keywords: Predation, Efficiency, Preference, Menochilus sexmaculatus, Aphis craccivora

Location: In the laboratory of Institute of Food and Radiation Biology

Start Date: 00-10-2000

End Date: 00-01-2001

Program Area: Pest Management

Commodity: Insects

Objectives:

To determine the preying efficiency, prey size preference and the rate of consumption of A. craccivora by the larvae and adult of M. sexmaculatus.

Methodology:

This study was conducted in the laboratory of Institute of Food and Radiation Biology (IFRB), Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE), Savar, Dhaka during October, 2000 to January, 2001. The experiment was conducted at 23.8±3.4°C temperature and 75.6±3.8% relative humidity. M. sexmaculatus adults were collected from AERE campus and nearby villages. The beetle was placed as single pair (male and female) in several Petri dishes (9.0 x 1.5 em) containing aphid infested bean leaves, stems, inflorescence and pods. The observations were made several times daily to examine oviposition of the predator. Eggs. laid by each female were removed and kept in other Petri dishes. Cotton soaked in water was kept in the Petri dishes containing eggs to provide sufficient moisture for egg hatching. After hatching of the eggs, the newly emerged larvae were transferred to several Petri dishes (14.0 x 1.5 em), each containing 10-15 larvae and mixed stages (nymphs and adults) of aphids as food until pupation. The experimental aphids were collected from a non-sprayed bean crop grown in the AERE campus and adjacent villages. As soon as pupation was completed the pupae were transferred in separate dishes without causing any disturbances before adult emergence. The newly emerged adults were placed in new Petri dishes having one male and one female for mating and egg laying. The procedure was continued for several times for obtaining large number of larvae and adult predators for subsequent studies.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Agril. Sci. 30(1): 161-167, January, 2003

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The present study showed that a considerable number of aphids were consumed by larvae and adults of predatory M. sexmaculatus. The rate of aphid consumption as reported by some other authors and the present laboratory study indicated that the use of M. sexmaculatus might an effic ient and potential predator of Aphis cruccivora an approach for integrated control of aphid.

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