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J. Env. Bio-Sci., 2018: Vol. 32 (1): 173-176 ISSN 0973-6913 (Print), ISSN 0976-3384 (On Line)

LIFE HISTORY AND FEEDING BEHAVIOUR OF COCCINELLID PREDATOR, CALVIA

PUNCTATA (MULSANT) (COLEOPTERA: COCCINELLIDAE)
1
L. Khamashon*., 2P. C. Joshi and 3B. R. Kaushal*
1, 2
Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Gurukula Kangri University
Haridwar-249404, India.
3
Department of Zoology, DSB Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital-263002, India
*Corresponding Author (Email: khamashon@gmail.com)

Received: 06-06-2018 Accepted: 10-06-2018

Calvia punctata (Mulsant) is a common predator of green peach aphids (Myzus persicae Sulzer). The life history was studied
under laboratory condition. We evaluated the longevity, consumption rate and larval as well as adult developments of this species.
The larval stages last for 13-18 days. The average longevity of adult female and adult male was 79±5.0 days and 67±3.0 days,
respectively. Third and fourth instar larvae consumed more aphids (16.7±1.6 aphids day-1 and 39.08±2.40 aphids day-1, respectively)
as compared to first (2.6±0.5 aphids day-1) and second instars (5.4±0.9 aphids day-1). The average consumption by adult female and
adult male was 53.4±17.7 aphids day-1 beetle-1 and 44.3±14.4 aphids day-1 beetle-1, respectively. Female adult consumed more
aphids than male adults.
Keywords: : Calvia punctata, life history, feeding potential, larva, adult, Myzus persicae
The various aspects of reproduction increase the chances of the most important beneficial insect of cotton pests, with its
more survival of future generations. Reproduction and mating immature and mature stages as voracious feeder of all the
are necessary to assure the survival of a species (Omkar and species of aphids (Srivastiva et al., 1987, Karpacheva, 1991).
Pervez, 2002). Adult female coccinellids lay 200 to more than The effectiveness of coccinellid beetles in controlling insect
1000 eggs in a few months time. Often they are deposited in pests has been reported by many authors (Heinz et al., 1999,
small groups together. The number depends on the availability Magro and Hemptinne, 1999, Joshi et al., 2012) and 90% of
of food. Usually they will deposit their eggs on leaves and approximately 6000 coccinellid species (Canepari, 1990) are
stems of the plant near prey, such as a colony of aphids. The beneficial predators (Iperti, 1999). Aphid is one of the most
eggs are small (about 1mm), cream, yellow or orange. The life injurious insect pests which suck the cell sap and hence is
span of coccinellids may vary from few months to 2 years. one of the crop yield limiting factors (Fondren et al., 2004).
They affect the plant by secreting honey dew which encourages
Many insects play a very important role in controlling those
sooty mould development that disturbs the normal physiology
insects and plants that cause injuries to economically important
of the leaves (Dixon and Kindlmann, 1998) The rapacious
plants and animals. The coccinellids are predaceous in their
feeding by Stethorus sp. on mites keep them as effective
juvenile as well as adult stages. They feed on variety of small
biological control agents, particularly on tetranychid mites
pestiferous insects including aphids, jassids, mealy bugs,
(Ragkou et al., 2004).
whiteflies, soft bodied scale insects, psyllids, plant hoppers,
thrips, eggs and larvae of other insects. They are, therefore, MATERIAL AND METHODS
widely used in biological pest control programme. There are
Life histoy of Calvia punctata (Mulsant): The biology of C.
many predatory coccinellids which are well exercising natural
punctata was studied under laboratory conditions. The
control in different ecosystems including agriculture fields and
temperature maintained was in between 20-25 °C and relative
orchards. According to Bellows (2001) biological control of
humidity was 35-45%. Individuals of C. punctata were collected
aphids from injuring plants is a good replacement of highly
from peach plants.
toxic insecticides which is a common practice for its control.
Moreover, Coccinellid predators are tolerant to many Courtship behaviour: Courtship behaviour include latent
insecticides which is an advantage over other predators. It is period (duration of male standstill between genital contact and

NAAS Rating (2017)-4.43

 KHAMASHON, JOSHI AND KAUSHAL
first bout of body shaking), copulation (duration of male mounted
on the female), and post copulation period (time period from
first mating to first egg laying).
Morphometric parameters: Ten eggs, which were more than
5 hours old, were taken and their length and width was
measured on a micrometer under microscope. The selected
larvae from each instar (n = 4) were measured. Pupae as well
as adults (n = 4) were also measured with the help of scale to
record the length and width. The measurement of larvae was
taken from thoracic region while adult was measured from the
mid elytra region.
Feeding potential of Calvia punctata on Green peach
aphid (Myzus persicae): The coccinellid beetles feed on huge
variety of food sources. To determine the feeding potential of
dominant species, experiments were conducted in the
laboratory. The eggs, larvae, pupae and adult coccinellids were
collected from the study sites and reared them in laboratory
by providing them food (Aphids). The aphids were collected
from peach trees. The feeding potential of every stage of
coccinellids were observed by releasing 10-15 aphids for I
instar, 15-20 aphids for II instar, 20-35 aphids for the III instar,
35-60 aphids for the IV instar larvae, and 25-80 aphids for
adult C. punctata in a glass tube. After 24 hours the numbers
of unconsumed aphids were counted.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Life history (Photoplate 1): The adult individuals of Calvia
punctata were collected from peach plant. The sexually matured
adult male and female were placed in a petridish for copulation.
They were provided with green peach aphid. Mating period as
observed was:
Mating observed in 12 hrs Latent period (min) Copulation period (min)
1st mating 7.05 85.0
2nd mating 5.55 44.0
3rd mating 4.05 26.0
Oviposition: Laying of eggs took place after 10 days of
copulation. The bright coloured eggs were laid in cluster of 8
to 27 eggs. It is about 2 mm in length. The incubation period
was 7 days.
Larval stage: There are four larval stages in larval life,
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separated from each other by a moulting period in which the
larvae cast off its old exoskeleton and built up a new one,
considerably increasing in size. The larva leaves from the moult
(exuvae) and walks away after its cuticle hardens. Newly
emerged larvae were light creamy brown in colour.
1st instar: Elongate body and measures about 3-3.5 mm and
dark brown in colour and ventral side is lighter than the dorsal
side. Newly hatched larvae feed on the egg shell and aphids.
Larvae that hatch earlier than others may also eat fertilized
eggs in the clutch that have, unluckily for them, developed
later than their siblings. The larvae sometimes exhibit
cannibalism. This stage lasts for 1 to 2 days.
IInd instar: Body elongated, tapering toward the posterior part
and measures about 4-5 mm and 1-1.5 mm in length and
breadth, respectively. This stage lasts for 2 to 3 days.
IIIrd instar: Body measures about 6-7.5 mm and 3-3.5 mm in
length and breadth, respectively. Abdominal segments were
broader towards the thoracic region and tapering toward
posterior part. This stage lasts for 4 to 5 days.
IVth instar: The length and breadth of fourth instar larvae
measure about 7-7.5 mm and 3 -3.5 mm, respectively. This
instar larva has a similar description with the third instar. This
stage is the most efficient feeder. This stage lasts for 6 to 7
days.
Pupation: The last larval instar stops feeding and attached
itself using anal pad to a leaf or other substrate. Pupae are
light green with black stripes in colour and are not protected
by a cocoon. No feeding took place during this stage. Pupation
lasts for 6 to 10 days depending on favourable conditions.
Adult: The adult beetle emerges from the pupal skin through
a slit at the dorsal surface. The body of newly emerged adult
is pale, somewhat transparent and the wings are extended. It
takes many hours for the cuticle to harden and to develop the
characteristic colour pattern. Adults mate within 15 days after
emergence. The average longevity of adult female and adult
male was 79±5.0 days and 67±3.0 days, respectively after
emergence. Nyaanga (2011) reported that the total larval
development of Cheilomenes lunata feeding on different aphids
varied from 11.7 to 16.2. The average longevity of adult female
and adult male of Adalia tetraspilota was 65 days and 57 days,
respectively and the longevity of adult male and female Calvia
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punctata was 72 days and 65 days. Liu et al. (1997) studied behavior of Calvia punctata to consider it as a predator of small
the life history of Nephaspis oculatus and reported the longevity pestiferous insects.
of adult male and female of this species was 56.1 days and Table 1: Feeding behaviour of larvae and adult Calvia punctata
67.5 days, respectively. Palacio et al. (1986) reported that the
on green peach aphid
reproductive period of Telsimia and Pesudoscymnus was 57.6
Instar Age Number of aphids consumed
days. Sakuratani et al. (2000) reported that the pre-oviposition (days) n1 n2 n3 n4 Mean ± SD
periods of Adalia bipunctata were 24.6 days at 20 oC and 29.9 First 1 2 1 2 2 1.75 ± 0.5
days at 25 oC. 2 3 4 3 4 3.5 ± 0.58
Mean 2.6±0.5
Feeding potential Second 3 5 4 4 3 4.0 ± 0.82
4 8 7 6 6 6.75 ± 0.96
Larvae: The fourth larval instars was the most efficient feeders Mean 5.4±0.9
(39.0±2.4 aphids day-1 beetle-1) followed by third instar larvae Third 5 12 9 8 9 9.5± 1.73
6 14 12 14 11 12.75 ± 1.5
(16.7±1.6 aphids day-1 beetle-1), the second larval instars 7 18 13 17 16 16.0± 2.16
(5.38±0.89 aphids day-1 beetle-1) and first instars (2.6±0.5 8 20 19 21 19 19.75 ± 0.96
aphids day-1 beetle-1) (Table 1). Mean 16.7±1.6
Fourth 9 24 23 28 25 25± 2.16
Adults: The feeding of aphids reached its climax (72 aphids 10 29 25 29 29 28 ± 2.0
11 36 31 31 36 33.5 ± 2.89
day-1 beetle-1) in the 21st day old female and 20th day old
12 42 38 42 42 41.0± 2.0
male (62 aphids day-1 beetle-1). The average consumption by 13 55 44 48 55 50.5 ± 5.45
adult female and adult male was 53.4 ± 17.7 aphids day-1 and 14 58 56 54 58 56.5± 1.91
Mean 39.0±2.4
44.3 ± 14.4 aphids day-1, respectively (Table 1).
Adult Female 53.4 ± 17.7
Adult Male 44.3 ±14.4
The female coccinellids devoured considerably more number
of aphids and thus, the overall average consumption percentage
of adult female Calvia punctata (86.9%) was much higher than
the male (72.9%). It is evident that feeding behaviour varied
significantly with the age as well as with the sex of the beetles.
1 2 3 4
Joshi et al. (2012) studied on the feeding potential of Adalia
tetraspilota (Hope) on green peach aphid and reported that
among the larval stages the fourth instar larva was the most
efficient feeder with 39.96 ± 1.04 aphids day-1 and female adult
(39.8±11.4 aphids day-1) consumed more aphids than male
adult (31.7±8.07 aphids day-1). Kumari and Singh (1999) studied
on the feeding potential of Coccinella septumpunctata var. 10 5
divaricata on Lipaphis erysimi during February and March of
1996 and observed that it consumed 116.61 aphids 141 aphids
during February and March, respectively. Das and Sagar (2001)
observed that Coccinella septumpunctata consumed maximum
number of Aphis craccivora (39.75 ± 5.22 aphids day-1) followed
by Micraspis sexmaculatus (31.3 ± 3.48 aphids day-1) and
Coccinella repanda (26.97 ± 4.52 aphids day-1). Xue et al. Photoplate: Life cycle of Calvia punctata
(2009) reported that third instar and adult females consumed 1. Adults (Copulation), 2. Eggs, 3. Hatching, 4. 1st Instar,
significantly more soybean aphids than did adult males at
5. IInd instar, 6. III instar, 7. IV instar, 7. Onset of pupation,
prey densities of 150 and 180 aphids per arena for Coccinella
septempunctata. More experiments are required on the feeding 8. Pupa, 9. Young Adult
 KUMAR AND PALIYAL (176)

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