A Life Table of the Ladybird Beetle Harmonia axyridis PALLAS (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) in Relation to the Aphid Abundance

A field study was performed to construct a life table of the ladybird beetle, Harmonia axyridis PALLAS, in relation to seasonal change in the number of the artichoke aphid, Capitophorus elaeagni (del GUERCIO). Sibling and non-sibling cannibalism killed 31.16% of all eggs. Mortality of fourth instar larvae (93.33%) was higher than those of the other stages (<50.51%), probably due to food shortage caused by the adult oviposition timing synchronized with seasonal change in the aphid. Egg cannibalism may be advantageous for cannibals to escape food limitaiton and thus important in the life history strategy of H. axyridis.