Effect of different diets on biology, reproductive variables and life and fertility tables of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae)

ABSTRACT The biology, reproductive variables and population growth indicators of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) fed on three diets, namely Cinara atlantica (Wilson, 1919) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Brevicoryne brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), and frozen eggs of Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller, 1879) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), were evaluated. With all three diets, birth rate was higher than mortality, resulting in positive rm values and thus indicating population growth. Under the conditions used in the experiments, H. axyridis was able to survive, develop and reproduce normally. This demonstrates that are different kind of food that can be essential for supporting the reproduction of some species of Coccinellidae, but not with the same optimization of preferred prey