Predation by Coccinella septempunctata and Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on Aphis glycines (Homoptera: Aphididae).

Coccinella septempunctata L. and Harmonia axyridis Pallas are key natural enemies of soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura, in North America. Third instars, adult females, and adult males of both C. septempunctata and H. axyridis exhibited a type II functional response for predation toward adult soybean aphids at 26 +/- 1 degrees C. In C. septempunctata, the functional response curve of adult males differed from those of third instars and adult females, but there was no difference between third instars and adult females. In H. axyridis, the functional response curves of larvae, adult females, and adult males all differed significantly. Third instars and adult females consumed significantly more soybean aphids than did adult males at prey densities of 150 and 180 aphids per arena for C. septempunctata and at prey densities of 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 aphids per arena for H. axyridis. The theoretical maximum daily predation rate of adult aphids by C. septempunctata was predicted to be 204 per third instar, 277 per adult female, and 166 per adult male, and 244, 156, and 73, respectively, for H. axyridis. Third instars and adult females of both species consumed significantly more aphids than did adult males on soybean plants with the recommended action threshold of 250 soybean aphids per plant. Both C. septempunctata and H. axyridis have high predation capacities and are important in suppressing soybean aphid populations.