RESPONSES OF THE DIFFERENT INSTAR PREDATOR, COCCINELLA-SEPTEMPUNCTATAL (COLEOPTERA, COCCINELLIDAE), TO THE KAIROMONES PRODUCED BY THE PREYAND NON-PREY INSECTS AS WELL AS THE PREDATOR ITSELF

The kairomonal responses of the predator Coccinella septempunctata L. to prey and non-prey insects as well as to the predator itself were co mpared. The results showed that the predator could use the odour produ ced by its prey only as a kairomone in food finding. The adult predato r exhibited significant difference, while the larvae revealed no diffe rence in responding to the kairomones from the four species of aphid p reys tested. The adult predator was lured most strongly to Myzus persi cae (Sulz.) followed by Aphis fabae Scop., Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harr.) and Rhopalosiphumid (Fitch) (Homoptera: Aphididae) in that order. Abo ut 9.5% of the different instars of the predator oriented towards the odours produced by the other individuals of the same instars. It is as sumed that a decision in prey selection may be made by the adult preda tor and the larvae may be passive in searching the food chosen by thei r adult, and that the odours from the individuals of the predator whic h have found their preys before the other individuals can act as a ori entation cue to aid the others in searching the preys.