D3388: A simple evaluation of prey recognition behavior by mass reared Coleomegilla maculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

The predatory coccinellid Coleomegilla maculata has been identified as a promising natural enemy for mass production and release into greenhouses and high tunnels to control aphids on small fruits and vegetables. This study tested the hypothesis that hunger level, prey palatability, and sex (gender) had no effect on prey recognition behavior by C. maculata adults and larvae, which had been reared continuously on non-aphid prey foods for multiple generations. Aphid adults were collected from native host plants (weeds) in two consecutive seasons and stored in the laboratory prior to experimentation. Individual aphids were isolated in medium sized Petri dish arenas and exposed to predator attack, one predator per arena. Treatments consisted of predator hunger level and sex. Aphid types were palatable and non-palatable. Predator diets were a factitious food or an artificial diet. The time (seconds) that predators required to recognize prey and to consume prey partially or completely was recorded. Regardless of rearing food source (factitious foods or an artificial diet), C. maculata larvae and adults readily attacked aphids, both palatable and non-palatable species. The hunger level (24 hours vs 48 hours without food) had no effect on the rate of attack. Adult females were slightly more voracious than males; palatable aphids were readily consumed but non-palatable ones were not. Larvae recognized prey as readily as adults and consumed palatable rather than non-palatable aphids. In conclusion, mass reared C. maculata adults and larvae immediately recognized aphids despite having no multi-generational history of feeding on aphids.