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<p>The lady beetles&#xa0;<i>Tenuisvalvae notata</i> and&#xa0;<i>Cryptolaemus montrouzieri</i>&#xa0;are important predators of mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). Like the prey, these lady beetles produce wax filaments that cover their body during the larval stage. It has been hypothesized that lady beetle body wax chemical profiles are like their prey as i) a mechanism of camouflage, and ii) conveying protection to the lady beetle larvae against aphid-tending predatory ants. Here, we tested this hypothesis for the predators <i>T. notata</i>&#xa0;and&#xa0;<i>C. montrouzieri</i> and two mealybug prey species, <i>Ferissia dasyrilii</i>, and <i>Planococcus citri</i>. We assessed how prey species influence the predator’s cuticular chemistry throughout its development and evaluated the metabolic costs of wax production in both larvae and adults. Cuticular wax samples were analyzed using GC–MS and GC-FID, and metabolic costs were specifically evaluated in 4th instar larvae of both predator species. The larvae were subjected to body wax removal from 0 to 4 times. Results showed that predator body wax profiles are not like the chemical profile of prey body wax. There was a metabolic cost associated with wax removal; predators (male and female) showed a significant reduction in adult body weight when wax was removed. This suggests reallocation of energy to wax replacement instead of growth. In addition, we detected effects of wax removal on fecundity and egg viability. Our results do not support the hypothesis that predators mimic the cuticular wax composition of prey as a means of camouflage.</p>

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Metabolic Costs and Camouflage Effect of Wax Production in Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and Tenuisvalvae notata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年3月17日

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  • Nataly De La Pava,
  • Christian Sherley Araújo da Silva Torres,
  • Arodi P. Favaris,
  • José Maurício Simões Bento

摘要

The lady beetles Tenuisvalvae notata and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri are important predators of mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). Like the prey, these lady beetles produce wax filaments that cover their body during the larval stage. It has been hypothesized that lady beetle body wax chemical profiles are like their prey as i) a mechanism of camouflage, and ii) conveying protection to the lady beetle larvae against aphid-tending predatory ants. Here, we tested this hypothesis for the predators T. notata and C. montrouzieri and two mealybug prey species, Ferissia dasyrilii, and Planococcus citri. We assessed how prey species influence the predator’s cuticular chemistry throughout its development and evaluated the metabolic costs of wax production in both larvae and adults. Cuticular wax samples were analyzed using GC–MS and GC-FID, and metabolic costs were specifically evaluated in 4th instar larvae of both predator species. The larvae were subjected to body wax removal from 0 to 4 times. Results showed that predator body wax profiles are not like the chemical profile of prey body wax. There was a metabolic cost associated with wax removal; predators (male and female) showed a significant reduction in adult body weight when wax was removed. This suggests reallocation of energy to wax replacement instead of growth. In addition, we detected effects of wax removal on fecundity and egg viability. Our results do not support the hypothesis that predators mimic the cuticular wax composition of prey as a means of camouflage.