Influence of diet and photoperiod on development and reproduction of European populations of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Abstract

The current study examines the effect of photoperiod (16:08 or 12:12 h L:D) and diet (eggs of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Phycitidae) or the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)) on the development and reproduction of the multicoloured Asian lady beetle Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). A long-term laboratory population of H. axyridis (since 1998) and a melanic and non-melanic population originating from field collected individuals of H. axyridis in Belgium were used in this study. Long day conditions (16 h photoperiod) shortened development of the field populations with 2-3 days when compared with short day conditions (12 h photoperiod). Oviposition in the field populations was delayed by 1-3 months when reared at a 12 h photoperiod. Dissections indicated that the females were in reproductive diapause. As compared with live pea aphids, a diet consisting of E. kuehniella eggs yielded heavier adult body weights (up to 12%) and increased the number of egg laying days (by 45-169%) for both field populations at a 16 h photoperiod and lengthened adult life span (by 45-92%) under both light regimens. The morph types differed in their response to the foods offered in terms of developmental rate, pre-oviposition period and number of oviposition days. The laboratory and field strains responded differentially to regimens of food and photoperiod. The study indicated a greater nutritional plasticity of the non-melanic morphs which may offer them a competitive advantage that may in part explain the predominance of non-melanic morphs in newly colonized areas.

Aspectos biológicos de Harmonia axyridis alimentada com duas espécies de presas e predação intraguilda com Eriopis connexa

“…Hodek (1973) Hodek (1973), pois permitiram o desenvolvimento, a oviposição e a sobrevivência da joaninha. Estudos têm demonstrado que ovos de E. kuehniella, S. cerealella e A. kuehniella são eficientes dietas para a criação de Coccinellidae (Kato et al, 1999;Abdel-Salam & Abdel-Baky, 2001;Berkvens et al, 2008b). No presente trabalho, a dieta com ovos de A. kuehniella foi adequada para criação de H. axyridis.…”

“…A joaninha-asiática Harmonia axyridis Pallas, 1773 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) é considerada uma predadora voraz e eficaz, principalmente de pulgões, e tem sido utilizada como agente de controle biológico em várias culturas, na América do Norte e Europa (Brown & Miller, 1998;Michaud, 2000;Kuroda & Miura, 2003;Landis et al, 2004;Berkvens et al, 2008b).…”

Mode of overwintering of invasive Harmonia axyridis in the Netherlands

“…Moreover, they found that H. axyridis entered hibernation with an empty gut. Berkvens et al (2008) were able to induce a reproductive diapause in the fourth generation of a laboratory-reared population collected in the field in April 2005. However, they could not replicate this with individuals that were field-collected in June 2008 (Berkvens et al 2010).…”

The harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis: global perspectives on invasion history and ecology

“…Hatching rate (percentage of eggs 1196 that hatch to the first larval instar) should be calculated over the first month of reproduction, since it 1197 declines strongly later (Awad et al 2013). Hatching rate in H. axyridis in different countries varied 1198 from 15% in Belgium (Berkvens et al 2008) to 100% in Italy (unpublished data), although it has not 1199 been measured in most countries (Table 2). Hatching success may depend on many factors for 1200 example food source, colour morph, endosymbionts and multiple fertilisation.…”