Informatics Publishing Limited

M. Sen Choudhuri ¹, K. Chaudhuri ¹, B. K. Agarwala ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Life Science, Tripura University, Agartala 799004, IN

Abstract

Aphidophagous ladybird beetle, Cheilomenes sexmaculatus (Fabricius) developed and reproduced in captivity when offered alternative foods like drone honeybee powder, ant eggs or a combination of ant eggs and aphids (2:1). However, female ladybird beetles showed longer pre-reproductive delay and laid less number of viable eggs by feeding on alternative foods in comparison to those females which fed on living aphids. Adults fed on drone honeybee powder oviposited more number of eggs and such adults lived longer than those fed on ant eggs or a combination of ant eggs and aphids.

Keywords

Ladybird Beetles, Cheilomenes sexmaculatus, Alternative Foods.

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