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

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.