Effect of quantity and consumption of food on body weight and development of two species of Ladybird beetles

The food quantity provided and the food consumed affected the overall weight gained by the insect body. The efficiency to consume food increased from the early instar to the final instar and decreased few days before the last instar entered pupation. The food conversion efficiency was least in the first instar but highest in the fourth instar. The developmental duration shortens when the prey was present in abundance and the larva proceeded towards pupation early. Two species of ladybirds viz., Coccinella septempunctata and C. transversalis occured in the agricultural fields and share almost same prey habitat. The fourth instar of both the species was found to be highly voracious before pupation. The instars of C. sepetempunctata were found to be heavier in body weight and consumed more food as compared to the instars of C. transversalis.