These types of food are an important component of diets for many ladybirds as an additional source of energy and often necessary for the development (Lundgren 2009a). 2009), and fruits and fungi (Triltsch 1997). 2016), honeydew and plant parts (Giorgi et al. So far, there is no Coccinellid species for which the complete dietary breadth is entirely known (Weber and Lundgren 2009).Įntomophagous coccinellid species regularly consume non-prey food such as pollen and nectar (Togni et al. Most predatory ladybirds feed on honeydew-producing insects from the hemipteran suborder Sternorrhyncha, which they need to complete development. Predatory ladybirds have evolved from mycophagous ladybirds that first were adapted for feeding on sooty molds, but then accepted the insects that produce honeydew such as aphids (Leschen 2000). Our results provide new insights into foraging behavior of entomophagous coccinellids revealing the potential of powdery mildew to be utilized as important non-essential food in a mixed diet, but also its lethal effect if consumed alone.Ĭoccinellids are a heterogeneous group of insects divided into three major categories according to their food preferences: zoophagous (predating), phytophagous (plant eating), and mycophagous (fungus eating) (Giorgi et al.
Molecular analyses confirmed the presence of fungal spores in ladybird guts when feeding either on powdery mildew or on a mixed diet. After 15 days, the highest survival rate (almost 80%) was observed for ladybirds feeding on plants with both aphids and powdery mildew. After 3 days, the survival rate of ladybirds feeding only on powdery-mildew spores was less than 50%, while for ladybirds feeding exclusively on Rhopalosiphum padi aphids, the survival rate was close to 90%.
Odors released by powdery-mildew infected plants were more attractive for ladybirds compared to those of uninfected controls. In this study, we investigated the olfactory response of Coccinella septempunctata to odor emission of barley plants infected by powdery mildew and their survival on fungal spores in the presence or absence of aphids. Knowledge of their foraging behavior on plants infected by powdery mildew and their survival on fungal spores is currently limited. The diet of entomophagous coccinellids is mainly based on aphids and other food sources such as pollen, nectar, or fungal spores.
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