THE ROLE OF VISION AND COLOR IN THE CLOSE PROXIMITY FORAGING BEHAVIOROF 4 COCCINELLID SPECIES

The role of vision and color in close-proximity foraging behavior was investigated for four species of lady beetles: Coccinella septempuncta ta, Hippodamia convergens, Harmonia axyridis, and Coleomegilla maculat a. The effect of light level and color cues on consumption rates varie d among the four predator species. The consumption rates of these pred ators on the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) was measured under light and dark conditions. C. septempunctata, H. convergens, and Ha. axyridis consumed significantly more aphids in the light than in the d ark, while the consumption rate of Col. maculata was not affected by l ight level. Foraging ability was also measured on red and green color morphs of the pea aphid on red, green, and white backgrounds. C. septe mpunctata consumed significantly more of the aphid morph that contrast ed with the background color, and showed no difference between morphs on the white background. H. axyridis consumed significantly more red m orph aphids regardless of background. The remaining two species showed no difference in consumption rates on the two color morphs. The varia tion in the use of visual cues demonstrates how different species of p redators can exhibit different foraging behaviors when searching for t he same prey.