The biology of Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Meneville was studied on three diets, at temperature 25 ± 1°C; 70 ± 10% RH and 12 hours photofase. Eggs of Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller) and two species of aphids, Schizaphis graminum ( Rondani) and Brachycaudus (Appelia) schwartzi Börner, were fed to the larvae. S. graminum was fed to the adults. The lenght of the larval-adult period of H. convergens was higher when the larvae fed on eggs of A. kuehniella (19.5 days), than when they fed on the aphids S. graminum (17.0 days) or B. schwartzi (17.9 days). However, the viability of larva-adult period showed no significant difference among all three tested diets. Longevity and all the reproductive parameters at the adult phase of H. convergens showed no significant difference when the larvae were reared on the three diets. Eggs of A. kuehniella were shown as a suitable alternative food, that be used as a substitute of the aphids, the most commom prey to larvae rearing of H. convergens.
Insecta; coccinellid; factitious host; biology
