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Perceived prey quantity modulates oviposition in the ladybird Menochilus sexmaculatus

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Abstract

The ability of the ladybird Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius) to modulate reproductive output in response to varying actual and perceived prey conditions was investigated using two prey species. An experimental arena was established by partitioning Petri dishes into two compartments using muslin cloth, the lower compartment being a perceived prey zone and the upper being the real prey zone. Ovipositing females were placed in the real prey zone with the minimal supply of aphid required for oviposition, while aphid quantity (abundant, scarce or absent) and aphid species were varied in the perceived zone. Females were found to respond to a perceived increased quantity of each prey species by increasing oviposition, even when the quantity of prey actually supplied was minimal. Perceived scarcity and absence of prey reduced oviposition, even when the female was actually consuming a similar quantity of prey to the perceived abundant condition. There was, however, no effect of perceived prey conditions on egg viability. The study thus revealed that this ladybird is able to perceive the presence of prey in its environment and modify its oviposition accordingly. It also demonstrates that it is the perception of prey that influences oviposition more than the actual prey consumed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Ian Skicko, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, UK for improving the language of the paper. SS gratefully acknowledges a BSR fellowship awarded by the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India. The other authors are thankful to the Department of Higher Education, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, India for providing financial assistance under the Centre of Excellence Programme.

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  1. Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, 226007, India

    Shashwat Singh, Geetanjali Mishra &  Omkar

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  1. Shashwat Singh
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  2. Geetanjali Mishra
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Singh, S., Mishra, G. & Omkar Perceived prey quantity modulates oviposition in the ladybird Menochilus sexmaculatus . J Ethol 34, 59–64 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-015-0446-4

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