Lady Beetle Oviposition Site Choices: Maternal Effects on Offspring Performance

TLDR: It is concluded that aphidophagous lady beetle oviposition site selection reflects adaptive maternal choices associated with an adequate food resource positively affecting offspring fitness.

Abstract: Maternal effects can result in adaptive phenotypic responses of offspring that increase their fitness. Several recent studies report a positive relationship between maternal choices and offspring fitness. However, few studies have assessed the associations between aphidophagous lady beetle oviposition site selection, the adequacy of food resources for their offspring, and offspring performance. To clarify these issues, we explored whether aphidophagous lady beetle oviposition site selection can influence offspring performance, thereby reflecting adaptive maternal behavior. To assess the effect of food resources on offspring performance, we fed the larvae of 3 lady beetle species: Cycloneda sanguinea (L.), Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), and Hippodamia convergens (Guerin-Meneville) (all Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), with different types of aphids (Uroleucon and Brevicoryne) (both Hemiptera: Aphididae) then measured development time, survival, adult body mass, brightness, and chromatic coloration of the adult beetles. We found that Ha. axyridis larvae fed Brevicoryne exhibited a higher survival rate than those fed Uroleucon. Also more adults emerged from C. sanguinea larvae fed Uroleucon aphids, and these adults were heavier, shinier, with more chroma, and developed faster than those fed on Brevicoryne. Overall, lady beetles performed better when fed aphids commonly found near their respective oviposition sites. We conclude that aphidophagous lady beetle oviposition site selection reflects adaptive maternal choices associated with an adequate food resource positively affecting offspring fitness. Elucidating the links between lady beetle oviposition site choice and optimal resource for their offspring enhances our understanding of habitat use and co-existence of aphidophagous lady beetle communities in Brazilian agroecosystems.   Resumo Os efeitos maternos podem resultar em respostas fenotipicas adaptativas da prole que aumentam sua aptidao. Varios estudos recentes relatam uma relacao positiva entre escolhas maternas e aptidao dos filhos. No entanto, poucos estudos avaliaram as associacoes entre a selecao do local de oviposicao de besouros afidofagos, a adequacao dos recursos alimentares para a prole e o desempenho da prole. Para esclarecer essas questoes, avaliamos se a selecao do local de oviposicao de besouros afidofagos pode influenciar o desempenho da prole, refletindo assim o comportamento materno adaptativo. Para avaliar o efeito dos recursos alimentares no desempenho da prole, alimentamos as larvas de tres especies de besouros: Cycloneda sanguinea (L.), Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), e Hippodamia convergens (Guerin-Meneville) (todos Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), com diferentes tipos de pulgoes (Uroleucon e Brevicoryne) (ambos Hemiptera: Aphididae), medimos o tempo de desenvolvimento, a sobrevivencia, a massa corporal adulta, o brilho e a coloracao cromatica dos besouros adultos. Foi observado que larvas de Ha. axyridis alimentadas com Brevicoryne exibiram uma taxa de sobrevivencia mais alta do que aquelas alimentadas com Uroleucon. Tambem emergiram mais adultos de larvas de C. sanguinea quando alimentadas com pulgoes Uroleucone e esses adultos eram mais pesados, mais brilhantes, com mais croma e se desenvolveram mais rapidamente do que aqueles alimentados com Brevicoryne. No geral, as joaninhas tiveram melhor desempenho quando alimentados com pulgoes comumente encontrados perto de suas respectivas posturas. Concluimos que a selecao do local de oviposicao de besouros afidofagos reflete escolhas maternas adaptativas associadas a um recurso alimentar adequado que afeta positivamente a aptidao da prole. A elucidacao dos vinculos entre a escolha do local de oviposicao do besouro e o recurso ideal para seus filhotes aprimora nossa compreensao do uso do habitat e a coexistencia de comunidades de besouros afidofagos nos agroecossistemas brasileiros. Key Words: Cycloneda sanguinea; Harmonia axyridis; Hippodamia convergens; Uroleucon; Brevicoryne; adaptative maternal behavior View this article in BioOne