Current Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Ladybird, Menochilus Sexmaculatus (Fabricius) Can Survive o Oophagy but with Altered Fitness than Aphidophagy


Affiliations
1 Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226 007, India
 

Egg consumption is common among insects, including ladybirds. The consumed eggs may be conspecific or heterospecific. Egg consumption eliminates potential competitors and provides additional nutrients for development and reproduction. In ladybirds, the incidence of cannibalism and intraguild predation has been proven as alternative tactics for the sustenance of life under prey-scarce condition. The consumption of conspecific eggs is known as cannibalism. Thus, in this study we have evaluated the effect of diets, viz. conspecific and heterospecific eggs along with aphids on egg consumption, developmental and reproductive attributes of a ladybird beetle, Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). We found that all the immature stages and adults prefer and consumed more conspecific eggs than heterospecific eggs possibly owing to low toxicity. Fourth instars and adult females consumed higher number of conspecific (82.15 ±4.94 and 85.04 ±0.05 respectively) and heterospecific eggs (56.61 ±0.44 and 60 ±0.48 respectively) than other life stages. Further the life stages developed faster on aphids followed by conspecific and heterospecific eggs. Besides aphids, overall maximum number of eggs was laid on conspecific eggs (84.00 ±1.92) followed by heterospecific eggs (67.70 ± 1.07). However, reverse trend was observed for per cent egg viability. Thus, with scarcity of primary prey (aphid), ladybirds consume and reproduce on conspecific/heterospecific eggs as alternative diets.

Keywords

Aphidophagy, Egg Consumption, Ladybirds, Oophagy.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Kudo, S. I. and Nakahira, T., Effects of trophic-eggs on offspring performance and rivalry in a sub-social bug. Oikos, 2004, 107, 28– 35.

  • Järnegren, J., Tobias, C. R., Macko, S. A. and Young, C. M., Egg predation fuels unique species association at deep-sea hydrocarbon seeps. Biol. Bull., 2005, 209(2), 87–93.

  • Ochi, H., Sato, Y. and Yanagisawa, Y., Obligate feeding of cichlid eggs by Caecomastacembelus zebratusin Lake Tanganyika. J. Fish Biol., 1999, 54, 450–459.

  • Denoël, M. and Andreone, F., Trophic habits and aquatic micro-habitat use in gilled immature, paedomorphic and metamorphic Alpine newts (Triturus alpestris apuanus) in a pond in central Italy. Belg. J. Zool., 2003, 133(2), 95–102.

  • De Queiroz, A. and Rodriguez-Robles, J. A., Historical contingency and animal diets: The origin of egg eating in snakes. Am. Naturalist, 2006, 167, 682–692.

  • Burger, J., Territory size differencesin relation to reproductive stage and type of intruder in herring gulls (Larus argentatus). Auk, 1980, 97(4), 733–741.

  • Estrada, A., Rivera, A. and Coates-Estrada, R., Predation of artificial nests in a fragmented landscape in the tropical region of Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. Biol. Conserv., 2002, 106, 199–209.

  • Omkar, Pervez, A. and Gupta, A. K., Why do neonates of aphido-phagous ladybird beetles preferentially consume conspecific eggs in presence of aphids? Biocontrol. Sci. Technol., 2006, 16(3), 233–243.

  • Singh, S., Mishra, G. and Omkar, Oviposition in aphidophagous ladybirds: effect of prey availability and conspecific egg presence. Int. J. Trop. Insect Sci., 2019, 39, 107–104.

  • Schausberger, P., Inter and intraspecific predation on immatures by adult females in Euseius finlandicus, Typhlodromus pyriand Kampimo dromus aberrans(Acari: Phytoseiidae). Exp. Appl. Acarol., 1997, 21(3), 131–150.

  • Kaplan, R. H. and Sherman, P. W., Intraspecific oophagy in California newts. J. Herpetol., 1980, 14(2), 183–185.

  • Elgar, M. A. and Crespi, B. J.,Cannibalism: Ecology and Evolution among Diverse Taxa, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, 1992.

  • Schausberger, P., Cannibalism amongphytoseiid mites: a review. Exp. Appl. Acarol., 2003, 29(3–4), 173–191.

  • Pfennig, D. W., Ho, S. G. and Hoffman, E. A., Pathogen transmission as a selective force against cannibalism. Anim. Behav., 1998, 55(5), 1255–1261.

  • Evans, E. W., Multitrophic interactions among plants, aphids, alternate prey and shared natural enemies – a review. Eur. J. Entomol., 2008, 105, 369–380.

  • Dixon, A. F. G., Insect Predator – Prey Dynamics, Ladybird Beetles and Biological Control, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2000.

  • Snyder, W. E., Joseph, S. B., Preziosi, R. F. and Moore, A. J., Nutritional benefits of cannibalism for the lady beetle Harmonia axyridis(Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) when prey quality is poor. Environ. Entomol., 2000, 29, 1173–1179.

  • Yadav, T., Omkar and Mishra, G., Conspecific egg quality and distribution pattern do not affect life history traits of ladybird, Menochilus sexmaculatus. Bull. Insectol., 2019, 72, 125–133.

  • Dixon, A. F. G. and Kindlmann, P., Cannibalism, optimal egg size and vulnerable developmental stages in insect predators. Eur. J. Environ. Sci., 2012, 2, 84–88.

  • Hemptinne, J. L., Magro, A., Saladin, C. and Dixon, A. F. G., Role of intraguild predation in aphidophagous guilds. J. Appl. Entomol., 2011, 136(3), 161–170.

  • Hodek, I., Van Emden, H. F. and Honek, A., Ecology and behavior of the ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae). John Wiley & Sons, West Sussex, 2012.

  • Hemptinne, J. L., Dixon, A. F. G. and Coffin, J., Attack strategy of ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae): factors shaping their numerical response. Oecologia, 1992, 90, 238–245.

  • Hodek, I. and Honek, A., Ecology of Coccinellidae, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 1996.

  • Dixon, A. F. G. and Agarwala, B. K., Triangular fecundity function and ageing in ladybird beetles. Ecol. Entomol., 2002, 27, 433– 440.

  • Schellhorn, N. A. and Andow, D.A., Mortality of coccinellids (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) larvae and pupae when prey become scarce. Environ. Entomol., 1999, 28, 1092–1100.

  • Hemptinne, J. L., Dixon, A. F. G. and Gauthier, C., Nutritive cost of intraguild predation on eggs of Coccinella septempunctataand Adalia bipunctata(Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Eur. J. Entomol., 2000, 97, 559–562.

  • Abdelwahab, A. H., Michaud, J. P., Bayoumy, M. H., Awadalla, S. S. and El-Gendy, M., No nutritional benefits of egg cannibalism for Coleomegilla maculata(Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on a high-quality diet. Bull. Entomol. Res., 2017, 108(3), 344–350.

  • Nakamura, K. and Ohgushi, T., Studies on the population dynamics of a thistle-feeding lady beetle, Henosepilachna pustulosa (Kono) in a cool temperate climax forest II. Life tables, key-factor analysis, and detection of regulatory mechanisms. Res. Popul. Biol., 1981, 23, 210–231.

  • Hemptinne, J. L., Lognay, G., Gauthier, C. and Dixon, A. F. G., Role of surface chemical signals in egg cannibalism and intraguild predation in ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Chemoecology, 2000, 10, 123–128.

  • Ware, R., Yguel, B. and Majerus, M., Effects of competition, cannibalism and intraguild predation on larval development of the European coccinellid Adalia bipunctataand the invasive species Harmonia axyridis. Ecol. Entomol., 2009, 34, 12–19.

  • Cottrell, T. E., Suitability of exotic and native lady beetle eggs (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) for development of lady beetle larvae. Biol. Control, 2004, 31, 362–371.

  • Koide, T., Observations on the feeding habit of the larva of Coccinella septempunctata bruckiiMulsant: the feeding behaviour and number of prey fed under different temperatures. Kontyu, 1962, 30, 236–241.

  • Kajita, Y., Obrycki, J. J., Slogett, J. J. and Haynes, K. F., Intraspecific alkaloid variation in ladybird eggs and its effects on conand heterospecific intraguild predators. Oecologia, 2010, 163, 313–322.

  • Kumar, B., Mishra, G. and Omkar, Functional response and predatory interactions in conspecific and heterospecific combinations of two congeneric species (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Eur. J. Entomol., 2014, 111(2), 257–265.

  • Omkar, Suitability of different foods for a generalist ladybird, Micraspis discolour(Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Int. J. Trop. Insect Sci., 2006, 26, 35–40.

  • Dimetry, N. Z., The consequences of egg cannibalism in Adalia bipunctata(Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Entomophaga, 1974,19(4), 445–451.

  • Osawa, N., Sibling cannibalism in the lady beetle Harmonia axyridis: fitness consequences for mother and offspring. Res. Popul. Ecol., 1992, 34, 45–55.

  • Perry, J. C., The behavioural ecology of trophic egg laying, MSc thesis, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 2004.

  • Osawa, N., Ecology of Harmonia axyridisin natural habitats within its native range. BioControl, 2011, 56, 613–621.


Abstract Views: 342

PDF Views: 107




  • Ladybird, Menochilus Sexmaculatus (Fabricius) Can Survive o Oophagy but with Altered Fitness than Aphidophagy

Abstract Views: 342  |  PDF Views: 107

Authors

Shashwat Singh
Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226 007, India
Geetanjali Mishra
Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226 007, India
Omkar
Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226 007, India

Abstract


Egg consumption is common among insects, including ladybirds. The consumed eggs may be conspecific or heterospecific. Egg consumption eliminates potential competitors and provides additional nutrients for development and reproduction. In ladybirds, the incidence of cannibalism and intraguild predation has been proven as alternative tactics for the sustenance of life under prey-scarce condition. The consumption of conspecific eggs is known as cannibalism. Thus, in this study we have evaluated the effect of diets, viz. conspecific and heterospecific eggs along with aphids on egg consumption, developmental and reproductive attributes of a ladybird beetle, Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). We found that all the immature stages and adults prefer and consumed more conspecific eggs than heterospecific eggs possibly owing to low toxicity. Fourth instars and adult females consumed higher number of conspecific (82.15 ±4.94 and 85.04 ±0.05 respectively) and heterospecific eggs (56.61 ±0.44 and 60 ±0.48 respectively) than other life stages. Further the life stages developed faster on aphids followed by conspecific and heterospecific eggs. Besides aphids, overall maximum number of eggs was laid on conspecific eggs (84.00 ±1.92) followed by heterospecific eggs (67.70 ± 1.07). However, reverse trend was observed for per cent egg viability. Thus, with scarcity of primary prey (aphid), ladybirds consume and reproduce on conspecific/heterospecific eggs as alternative diets.

Keywords


Aphidophagy, Egg Consumption, Ladybirds, Oophagy.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv118%2Fi10%2F1602-1608