The distributions of coccinellid egg batches and larvae in relation to numbers of Aphis fabae Scop. on Vicia faba

Further analysis of results obtained from a study of populations of Coccinellids on three plots of Vicia faba infested with Aphis fabae Scop, at Rothamsted during 1952 are presented. The distributions of coccinellid egg batches and older larvae (mostly 3rd and 4th instars) on bean stems of five arbitrary classes of aphid infestation, emphasise the differences in the manner of increase of the predator and prey populations considered here; at the same time, the results throw light on the oviposition behaviour of the adult Coccinellids.The degree of correlation between coccinellid egg batches and Aphids on the plots (as indicated by regression analysis) varied inversely with the size of the aphid populations on the plots. On one plot, where Aphids were extremely numerous, this correlation was negligible; on the two other plots, where Aphids were less abundant, the correlation was more marked, being highest at the plot where the aphid numbers were lowest. The degree of correlation between egg batches and Aphids was determined apparently by the rate of increase of aphid numbers. It is pointed out that while these coccinellid populations increased additively (by immigration of ladybirds to the beans), populations of A. fabae increased multiplicatively (by reproduction) and at much higher rates.During the early stages of the aphid infestations on the bean plots, when aphid-infested stems were comparatively few, there was no statistically significant association between coccinellid eggs and the presence of Aphids on the bean stems; but when all stems had become infested, egg batches tended to occur most frequently on the stems with the most Aphids. From these and other observations it is concluded that the female Coccinellids do not need the stimulus of the presence of Aphids before laying their eggs on beans, and that they concentrate on well-infested bean stems where they tend to stay and feed on the Aphids and probably oviposit on those stems. The distributions of older coccinellid larvae (3rd and 4th instars) indicate that they, too, tend to concentrate on well-infested stems.The oviposition habits of the female Coccinellids are discussed in relation to the feeding problems of the newly-hatched larvae.