Effects of different dietary fats on biological characteristics of Coccinella septempunctata L

Abstract

The study aims to provide a basis for the large-scale artificial breeding of Coccinella septempunctata, the composition of an artificial diet for the ladybird was optimised by adding different fats to the diet. The effects of different dietary fats on the biology of ladybirds were evaluated by supplementing artificial diets with fats. The results show that the coconut, palm, perilla, linseed, lard and sesame oils should not be added to the artificial diet of ladybird larvae because of deleterious effects on ladybirds. The addition of 6 g olive oil (3 % of diet weight) improved larvae survival rate, and the addition of 4 g beef tallow (2 % of diet weight) increased ladybird pupation and emergence rates. In adult stage, the addition of 4 g coconut oil (2 % of diet weight) improved survival rates. Whereas 2–4 g olive oil (1–2 % of diet weight), 2–6 g lard (1–3 % of diet weight) and 6 g beef tallow oil (3 % of diet weight) improved oviposition and hatchability. In conclusion, the demand for fats is different in the larval and adult stages of the C. septempunctata. The findings of this study provide a valuable reference for the addition of exogenous fats to the ladybird artificial diet.