Feeding and Fecundity in the Predator, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Abstract

The relationship of food consumption during the grub stage with the subsequent adult stage of female Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), and the impact of food consumption on its fecundity was studied. Food consumption of the adult female C. montrouzieri was found to be positively correlated with food consumption during the grub stage and the regression analysis explained 54% of the variability (y = 0.3418x + 1.3884; R² = 0.542). Further, fecundity was found to be linked to the adult female's food consumption with a highly significant positive correlation to consumption of previous 1st day (r = 0.83), 2nd day (r = 0.82), 3rd day (r = 0.81), 1st + 2nd day (r = 0.83), 2nd + 3rd day (r = 0.82) as well as to cumulative food consumption (r = 0.83). Linear and non-linear functions explained the relationship between amount of food consumed and numbers of eggs laid to the extent of 85% (y = 1.6075x + 46.8; R² = 0.8456) and 89% (y=15.198x^0.5681; R² = 0.8854), respectively. Thus, selection for high food consumption in the grub stage also selects indirectly C. montrouzieri adult females that lay copious quantities of eggs.