CONTENTS IN-FIELD SAMPLED ADULTS OF COCCINELLA-SEPTEMPUNCTATA (COL., COCCINELLIDAE)

During two years adult Coccinella septempunctata L. were sampled at tw o localities in cereals and at another location throughout the whole y ear in different habitats. Frequency of different food types was recor ded using gut dissection. Food remains were classified into aphids, ot her arthropods, fungal spores, pollen, soil particles. Soil particles were relatively frequent only in early spring and pollen in late summe r, whereas fungal spores were most frequent in both these periods. Dur ing ladybird reproduction in winter wheat, aphid remains were present in 76.9-91.7% of all individuals and surprisingly spores were again mo re frequent than remains of other arthropods. Cannibalism was rare. Fo od of C. septempunctata tata was very uniform, because nearly always t he same spores (Alternaria sp.) and other arthropods (Thysanoptera) we re found. Additionally a semiquantitative analysis was performed with a simple scale of gut fullness. Only in certain cases significant posi tive correlation were determined between aphid density in the field an d the calculated ''feeding state'' as well as frequency of aphid remai ns.