Predatory behaviour, prey consumption, and foraging cycle of adults and larvae of Scymnus levaillanti Muls. and Cycloneda sanguinea L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) were investigated using a video/computer recording and measurement system. | Turk J Agric For 32 (2008) 391-400 © TÜBİTAK Feeding and Foraging Behaviour in Two Coccinellid Predators: Scymnus levaillanti Muls. and Cycloneda sanguinea L. Ali Arda IŞIKBER Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, Agriculture Faculty, Plant Protection Department, 46060 Kahramanmaraş - TURKEY Received: Abstract: Predatory behaviour, prey consumption, and foraging cycle of adults and larvae of Scymnus levaillanti Muls. and Cycloneda sanguinea L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) were investigated using a video/computer recording and measurement system. Larvae of S. levaillanti spent more time in feeding activities compared to C. sanguinea. Adults of both S. levaillanti and C. sanguinea spent more time in non-feeding activities (digestion and cleaning) compared to their larvae whilst adults of S. levaillanti spent less time in nonfeeding activities than those of C. sanguinea. Generally, larvae and adults of both coccinellid species spent most of their time in non-feeding activities. Although S. levaillanti exhibited more foraging cycles with shorter periods compared to C. sanguinea, S. levaillanti required less aphids to be satiated compared to C. sanguinea. These results indicated that feeding and foraging behaviour of these coccinellid species can have a great impact on their daily aphid consumption. Key Words: Scymnus levaillanti, Cycloneda sanguinea, coccinellid, foraging cycle, digestive pause İki Coccinellid Predatör, Scymnus levaillanti Muls. ve Cycloneda sanguinea L.’nın Beslenme ve Besin Arama Davranışı Özet: Scymnus levaillanti Muls. ve Cycloneda sanguinea L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) larvalarının ve erginlerinin avlanma davranışı, av tüketimi, ve av arama döngüsü video/bilgisayar kayıt ve analiz sistemi kullanılarak araştırılmıştır. Scymnus levaillanti larvaları beslenme aktivitelerinde C. sanguinea’nın larvalarına göre daha fazla süre harcamışlardır. Scymnus levaillanti erginleri beslenme dışı aktivitelerde (sindirim ve temizleme) C. sanguinea .
