High Variability in Pre-Oviposition Time Independent of Diet Available at Eclosion: A key Reproductive Trait in the Ladybird Beetle <i>Harmonia axyridis</i> (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Its Native Range
While insect predators need high-quality food to reach sexual maturity and reproduce, starvation following adult eclosion may occur when prey are missing in agroecosystems. This study explores whether the type of diet available at eclosion determines the future fecundity of newly emerged adult preda...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/5/382 |
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| author | Séverin Hatt Naoya Osawa |
| author_facet | Séverin Hatt Naoya Osawa |
| author_sort | Séverin Hatt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | While insect predators need high-quality food to reach sexual maturity and reproduce, starvation following adult eclosion may occur when prey are missing in agroecosystems. This study explores whether the type of diet available at eclosion determines the future fecundity of newly emerged adult predators. In a laboratory experiment, three different diets (i.e., flowers of <i>Perilla frutescens</i> (L.) Britton, eggs of <i>Ephestia kuehniella</i> Zeller as prey, or no food) were offered to adult females of the ladybird beetle <i>Harmonia axyridis</i> Pallas during their first three days after adult eclosion. On the fourth day, each female was paired with a prey-fed male and the pair was subsequently fed with prey. Diet at eclosion did not affect pre-oviposition time, the number of eggs oviposited daily, or the viability of egg batches. High variability in pre-oviposition time among females was observed for all diets. Significant negative linear relationships were found between pre-oviposition time and both the number of eggs oviposited daily and the viability of egg batches. This study clarifies that the food readily available at adult eclosion does not affect the capacity of <i>H. axyridis</i> to reproduce, provided that adults find prey within a few days. More generally, it shows that the reproductive traits of <i>H. axyridis</i> allow this generalist predator to be highly adapted to heterogenous environments in its native range. It is concluded that the variety of habitats offered by diversified agroecosystems may highly benefit the ladybird beetle <i>H. axyridis</i>, and potentially enhance its ability to biologically regulate crop pests. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:58:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-11596ca2950a485b801aa5e13a36bea1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:58:36Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-11596ca2950a485b801aa5e13a36bea12023-11-21T17:04:34ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502021-04-0112538210.3390/insects12050382High Variability in Pre-Oviposition Time Independent of Diet Available at Eclosion: A key Reproductive Trait in the Ladybird Beetle <i>Harmonia axyridis</i> (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Its Native RangeSéverin Hatt0Naoya Osawa1Laboratory of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyoku, Kyoto 606-8502, JapanLaboratory of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyoku, Kyoto 606-8502, JapanWhile insect predators need high-quality food to reach sexual maturity and reproduce, starvation following adult eclosion may occur when prey are missing in agroecosystems. This study explores whether the type of diet available at eclosion determines the future fecundity of newly emerged adult predators. In a laboratory experiment, three different diets (i.e., flowers of <i>Perilla frutescens</i> (L.) Britton, eggs of <i>Ephestia kuehniella</i> Zeller as prey, or no food) were offered to adult females of the ladybird beetle <i>Harmonia axyridis</i> Pallas during their first three days after adult eclosion. On the fourth day, each female was paired with a prey-fed male and the pair was subsequently fed with prey. Diet at eclosion did not affect pre-oviposition time, the number of eggs oviposited daily, or the viability of egg batches. High variability in pre-oviposition time among females was observed for all diets. Significant negative linear relationships were found between pre-oviposition time and both the number of eggs oviposited daily and the viability of egg batches. This study clarifies that the food readily available at adult eclosion does not affect the capacity of <i>H. axyridis</i> to reproduce, provided that adults find prey within a few days. More generally, it shows that the reproductive traits of <i>H. axyridis</i> allow this generalist predator to be highly adapted to heterogenous environments in its native range. It is concluded that the variety of habitats offered by diversified agroecosystems may highly benefit the ladybird beetle <i>H. axyridis</i>, and potentially enhance its ability to biologically regulate crop pests.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/5/382predatorfecundityfitnessstarvationalternative food<i>Perilla frutescens</i> |
| spellingShingle | Séverin Hatt Naoya Osawa High Variability in Pre-Oviposition Time Independent of Diet Available at Eclosion: A key Reproductive Trait in the Ladybird Beetle <i>Harmonia axyridis</i> (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Its Native Range Insects predator fecundity fitness starvation alternative food <i>Perilla frutescens</i> |
| title | High Variability in Pre-Oviposition Time Independent of Diet Available at Eclosion: A key Reproductive Trait in the Ladybird Beetle <i>Harmonia axyridis</i> (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Its Native Range |
| title_full | High Variability in Pre-Oviposition Time Independent of Diet Available at Eclosion: A key Reproductive Trait in the Ladybird Beetle <i>Harmonia axyridis</i> (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Its Native Range |
| title_fullStr | High Variability in Pre-Oviposition Time Independent of Diet Available at Eclosion: A key Reproductive Trait in the Ladybird Beetle <i>Harmonia axyridis</i> (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Its Native Range |
| title_full_unstemmed | High Variability in Pre-Oviposition Time Independent of Diet Available at Eclosion: A key Reproductive Trait in the Ladybird Beetle <i>Harmonia axyridis</i> (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Its Native Range |
| title_short | High Variability in Pre-Oviposition Time Independent of Diet Available at Eclosion: A key Reproductive Trait in the Ladybird Beetle <i>Harmonia axyridis</i> (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Its Native Range |
| title_sort | high variability in pre oviposition time independent of diet available at eclosion a key reproductive trait in the ladybird beetle i harmonia axyridis i coleoptera coccinellidae in its native range |
| topic | predator fecundity fitness starvation alternative food <i>Perilla frutescens</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/5/382 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT severinhatt highvariabilityinpreovipositiontimeindependentofdietavailableateclosionakeyreproductivetraitintheladybirdbeetleiharmoniaaxyridisicoleopteracoccinellidaeinitsnativerange AT naoyaosawa highvariabilityinpreovipositiontimeindependentofdietavailableateclosionakeyreproductivetraitintheladybirdbeetleiharmoniaaxyridisicoleopteracoccinellidaeinitsnativerange |