Effects of early growth conditions on body composition, allometry, and survival in the ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis.

摘要: During both the larval and adult stages, ladybird beetles Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) feed primarily on aphids, populations of which may fluctuate dramatically in time space. were reared under three resource treatments: high, low, improving. We predicted that experiencing consistently poor conditions would allocate limited resources to dispersal traits (by increasing relative wing surface area fat storage), whereas larvae facing good or improving preferentially reproductive traits. As predicted, at low food had lower loading stored more than individuals high food. When initially but improved during development, body size was reduced treatment, though scaled similarly. Allocation protein dependent sex treatment. Females less fat, males prote...