Effect of Prey and Alternative Food Sources on Development and Reproduction of Coelophora inaequalis Fabricius (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Lady beetle can utilize the alternative food sources to enhance their diets, other than essential prey. These alternative diets may enhance their developments, survival and fecundity. The study examined the effects of prey and alternative food sources on the development and performance of predaceous coccinellid Coelophora inaequalis (Fab-ricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), utilizing eggs of rice moth Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and bee pollen as alternative diets, while Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) served as the essential prey. Results revealed that 1st instar larvae of C. inaequalis are not able to maintain their development by feeding exclusively on an alternative diets, while other groups fed on A. gossypii and A. gossypii supplemented with bee pollen success to complete development. Although C. inaequalis that fed on A. gossypii supplemented with bee pollen experienced a shorter development time than those fed solely on A. gossypii, they exhibited decreased fecun-dity, lower survival rate and shorter adult longevity compared to the latter group. Adult of C. inaequalis fed exclusively on rice moth eggs or bee pollen or a combination of both can survive for 4-9 days. Rice moth eggs and bee pollen can serve as alternative food sources to enhance longevity of C. inaequalis adults.