© Benaki Phytopathological Institute
Predation of
P. quatuordecimpunctata
on
A. fabae
63
The utility of laboratory estimated func-
tional responses is questionable because
complex environmental conditions are not
illustrated in laboratory conditions (Mur-
doch, 1973). Additionally, foraging behavior
is different among coccinellid’s larvae and
adults, due to adults’ flight ability. Larvae
may stay within a patch, where adults may
not (Kindlmann and Dixon, 2001; Dostalk-
ova
et al.
, 2002). However, our results on
P.
quatuordecimpunctata
larvae functional re-
sponses may be indicative to their voracity
Figure 2.
Functional responses of the larval instars of
P. quatuordecimpunctata
to
A. fabae
on potted
V. faba
plants. L1: first
instar larvae, L2: second instar larvae, L3: third instar larvae and L4: fourth instar larvae.
Table 2.
Handling times, attack rates (mean, 95% confidence intervals) and maximum attack
rates of
Propylea quatuordecimpunctata
larval instars fed on
Aphis fabae
.
attack rate (hours
-1
)
handling time (hours)
maximum attack rate
AIC
mean
95% C.I.
mean
95% C.I.
mean
1
st
instar
0.21
0.08-1.53
5.15
3.74-6.84
2.33
171.6
2
nd
instar
0.23
0.14-0.37
2.40
2.03-2.83
4.99
271.2
3
rd
instar
0.18
0.14-0.24
0.83
0.74-0.92
14.50
399.3
4
th
instar
0.26
0.22-0.31
0.35
0.32-0.38
34.54
390.0
1...,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15 17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,...43