VARIATIONS IN BODY-LENGTH, WEIGHT, FAT-CONTENT AND SURVIVAL IN COCCINELLA-SEPTEMPUNCTATA AT DIFFERENT HIBERNATION SITES

Adults of Coccinella septempunctata L. (Coleoptera; Coccinellidae) wer e sampled in four overwintering sites: one in England and three at dif ferent altitudes in the Czech Republic (350-1420 m above sea level) in autumn 1992 and spring 1993. Body length, dry weight and fat weight w ere measured. There were significant differences in body length betwee n sampling sites in spring 1993, but not in autumn 1992. The average s ex ratio (female) in all samples was 1:0.60 in 1992 and 1:0.72 in 1993 . Females were significantly larger and heavier, and contained more fa t than males in both sampling periods. Dry weight and fat weight were positively correlated to body length at all sampling sites except at R uzyne, in the Czech Republic. Adults hibernating at higher altitudes a nd away from their breeding and feeding habitats had significantly mor e fat than those hibernating at lower altitudes. Fat reserves were red uced by 30% during the hibernation at the top of the Krkonose mountain , in the Czech Republic, where temperatures were much lower, but more than half of the fat reserves were consumed during the overwintering p eriod at the other sampling sites. The significance of body length and fat reserves in relation to adult hibernation sites and overwintering survival is discussed.