Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Functional and Numerical Responses of Coccinella Transversalis Fab. and Cheilomenes Sexmaculatus Fab. Feeding on the Melon Aphid, Aphis Gossypii Glov.

  • Research Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The functional response in terms of prey consumption and numerical response in terms of number of eggs laid by individual female adult predators of Coccinella transversalis Fab. and Cheilomenes (Menochilus) sexmaculatus Fab. (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera) at varied prey (Aphis gossypii Glover) (Aphididae: Homoptera) densities were investigated under laboratory conditions. The feeding rate by individual predators increased at increased prey densities, with both the coccinellids showing the Type II functional response. One hundred percent prey consumption was observed up to an initial prey density of 50 and 20 for Co. transversalis and Ch. sexmaculatus respectively. The fecundity of Co. transversalis increased at higher prey densities, but that of Ch. sexmaculatus remained unchanged.

Résumé

La réponse fonctionnelle en termes de prédation et la réponse numérique reflétée par le nombre d’oeufs individuellement pondus par les femelles matures de Coccinella transversalis Fab. et Cheilomenes (Menochilus) sexmaculatus Fab. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) a été étudiées dans des conditions de laboratoire, sur des densités variées de proie du puceron, Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera: Aphididae). Le taux de consommation par les prédateurs isolés allait de pair avec l’augmentation de la densité de proie et toutes les deux coccinelles montraient une réponse de prédation du Type II. Avec une densité respective de 50 et 20 pucerons, on a enregistré 100% de prédation pour C. transversalis et C. sexmaculatus. Chez C. transversalis, la fécondité augmentait avec l’accroissement de la densité de proie tandis que chez C. sexmaculatus cette fécondité est restée inchangée.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agarwala B. K. and Ghosh M. R. (1985) Biogeographical considerations of India Aphididae (Homoptera). Ins. Matsum. N.S. 31, 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Agarwala B. K. and Saha J. L. (1986) Larval voracity, development and relative abundance of predators of Aphis gossypii on cotton in India, pp. 339–344. In Ecology of Aphidophaga (Edited by I. Hodek), The Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arditi R. (1983) A unified model of the functional response of predators and parasitoids. J. tAnim. Ecol. 52, 293–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baskaran P. and Sambasivam A. (1984) A note on aphidophagous coccinellids and syrphids found at Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu. Madras Agric. J. 71, 204–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butani D. K. and Jotwani M. G. (1984) Insect pests of vegetables and their control. Pesticides XV, 33–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hassell M. P., Lawton J. H. and Beedington J. R. (1976) The components of arthropod predation I. The prey death rate. J. tAnim. Ecol. 45, 135–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodek I. (1973) Biology of Coccinellidae. Academic, Prague, 260 pp.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Holling C. S. (1959) The components of prédation as revealed by a study of small mammal population of European pine sawfly. Can. Entomol. 91, 293–320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holling C. S. (1965) The functional response of prédation to prey density. Mem. Entomol. Soc. Can. 48, 1–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ives P. M. (1981) Feeding and egg production of two species of coccinellids in the laboratory. Can. Entomol. 133, 99–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawauchi S. (1977) Effect of the different prey density on the food consumption of Propylea japonica Thunberg. (Col., Coccinellidae). Kurume Univ. J. 26, 67–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawton J. H., Hassell M. P. and Beedington J. R. (1975) Prey death rates and the rate of increase of arthropod predator population. Nature 255, 60–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Livdahl T. P. and Stiven A. E. (1983) Statistical difficulties in the analysis of predator functional response data. Can. Entomol. 115, 1365–1370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mills N. J. (1982) Voracity, cannibalism and coccinellid predation. Ann. Appl. Biol. 101, 144–448.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murdoch W. W. (1972) Quantitative evaluation of natural enemy effectiveness. 14th International Congress of Entomology Symposium, Canberra, 335–341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ofuya T. I. (1986) Predation by Cheilomenes vicina (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on the cowpea aphids, Aphis craccivora (Homoptera: Aphididae) effect of prey stage and density. Entomophaga 31, 331–335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pandey K. P., Kumar A., Singh R. and Shankar S. (1984) Numerical response and area of discovery of a predator, Coccinella septempunctata L. Z. Angew. Entomol. 97, 410–423.

    Google Scholar 

  • Popov P. (1960) Role of Coccinella septempunctata L. in the biological control of aphids. Seiskostop. Misul, Sofia 152–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Radke S. G., Darward W. L. and Mundiwale S. K. (1977) Influence of age of predator Coccinella septempunctata L. and population densities of the host Rhopalosiphum malais (Fitch.) (Homoptera: Aphididae) on the rate of predation. Indian J. Agric. Sci. 47, 305–308.

    Google Scholar 

  • Readshaw J. L. (1973) The numerical response of predators to prey density. J. tAppl. Ecol. 10, 242–351.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers D. J. (1972) Random search and insect population models. J. tAnim. Ecol. 41, 369–383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Royama T. (1971) A comparative study of models for predation and parasitism. Res. Popul. Ecol. Kyoto Univ. Suppl. 1, 91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saharia D. (1983) Some aspects of the biology of three coccinellid predators of Myzus persicae (Sulz.) on eggplant. J. Res. Assam. Agric. Univ. 4, 78–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sambasivam A. (1982) Studies on certain aphidophagous predators of Annamalainagar with reference to their biology and predatory potential. MSc (Agric.) Thesis, Annamalai Univ., Annamalainagar, India.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shands W. A. and Simpson G. W. (1972) Insect predators for controlling aphids on potatoes 2. In small plots with two kinds of barriers, in smaller fields or in large cages. J. tEcon. Entomol. 65, 514–518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sinha T. B., Pandey R. K., Rajendrasingh, Tripathi C. P. M. and Kumar A. (1982) The functional response of Coccinella septempunctata Linn., a coccinellid. Entomon. 7, 7–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waage J. (1990) Ecological theory and selection of biological control agents, pp. 135–157. In Critical Issues in Biological Control (Edited by M. Mackaner, L. E. Enler and J. Roland). Intercept, Andover.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, 608 002, India

    R. Veeravel & P. Baskaran

Authors
  1. R. Veeravel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. Baskaran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

See Editor’s Note at the end of this issue.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Veeravel, R., Baskaran, P. Functional and Numerical Responses of Coccinella Transversalis Fab. and Cheilomenes Sexmaculatus Fab. Feeding on the Melon Aphid, Aphis Gossypii Glov.. Int J Trop Insect Sci 17, 335–339 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400019159

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400019159

Key Words

Mots Clés

Search

Navigation