Effect of surface chemicals on intraguild predation of eggs of two aphidophagous ladybeetles, coccinella undecimpunctata l., and cydonia visina isis cr. (coleoptera: coccinellidae)

hagous coccinellids species, C. undecimpunctata and C. visina isis were examined. The first instar larvae of both species prefer to eat washed heterospecific eggs than unwashed eggs. Surface chemicals appear to play a major role for the preference of washed eggs, as the ladybeetle behavior was reversed when these chemicals were remained. The surface chemicals present on the eggs appears to reduce intraguild predation. The green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) in its first instar consumed C. undecimpunctata and C. visina isis eggs without showing any preference for either washed or unwashed treatments, although we observed that the washed eggs were eaten more than those unwashed. The average number of coccinellid eggs consumed by the first instar larvae of other predator species was determined and the results are discussed.