PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL-CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILOCORUS SPP (COLEOPTERA, COCCINELLIDAE) IN THE LABORATORY RELATIVE TO EFFECTIVENESS IN THE FIELD AS BIOCONTROL AGENTS

Differences between six Chilocorus spp. in their usefulness as biocont rol agents in southern Africa were reflected in aspects of physiologic al and behavioral measurements derived from a quality monitoring progr am in the laboratory. Differences in natural climatic adaptations and distributions of Chilocorus bipustulatus (L.), C. cacti L., C. distigm a (Klug), C. infernalis (Mulsant), C. nigritus (Fabricius), and C. sim oni Sicard were not as accurately reflected in the relationship betwee n feeding rate and temperature as in mortality as a function of time o f exposure to high temperature. The effects of various rearing and han dling procedures were evaluated focusing on C. nigritus. The vigor of C. nigritus was not improved by maintenance under fluctuating temperat ures. Feeding rates of this species were lower during the scotophase t han during the photophase and increased as a function of duration of s tarvation. The weights of adult Chilocorus spp. at eclosion was a func tion of larval diet and increased with adult feeding for variable leng ths of time depending on species and larval diet before plateauing. Th ese results have implications for the rearing of, experimentation with , and use in biocontrol of these Chilocorus spp.