Predator efficacy of Adalia bipunctata L. (Coleoptera:Coccinellidae) larvae and adults on aphids

Laboratory experiments were carried out in order to evaluate the predation efficacy of the predatory lady beetle Adalia bipunctata (L.) against the two aphids species: Aphis fabae Scop. and Aphis pomi De Geer. Adults of A. bipunctata were collected in orchard in copula. After the oviposition completed, eggs were isolated and larvae were reared in laboratory. Larvae were fed by A fabae, and adults were fed by A.fabae and A.pomi. The total food consumption capacity for each of four larval instars was between 51and 265 (some larvae died before they completed development) The first larval instar consumed between 13 and 48 with average of 30.9 aphids. The second larval instar consumed between 18 and 36 aphidswith an average of 27.33. The third larval instar consumed between 20 and 51 (average 38.44)and the fourth larval instar had the highest predator efficiency with number of consumed aphids between 72 and 158 (average value of 105). During the adult life span, which lasted from 7 to 52 days (average 35.6 days), the number of eaten aphids was between 136 ( 102 A. fabae and 34 A. pomi) and 3057 (106 A. fabae and 2951 A. pomi) with average value of 1538 aphids during the life span If the total number of eaten aphids is divided with the days of life span, the number of consumed aphids per day is between 19.43 and 61.14.