Reproductive Interference and Niche Partitioning in Aphidophagous Insects
Table 1
Comparison of the niche, life-history traits, and interspecific mating interactions in sibling species between Harmonia ladybirds and Chrysopa lacewings.
Harmonia ladybirds
Chrysopa lacewings
H. axyridis (generalist)
H. yedoensis (specialist)
C. quadripunctata (generalist)
C. slossonae (specialist)
Niche
Habitat
Various deciduous trees including pine trees
Pine trees
Various deciduous trees including alder trees
Alder trees
Prey
Various aphid species
The giant pine aphid
Various aphid species
The woolly alder aphid (with attended ants)
Alternative prey
Various aphid species and artificial diet
Various aphid species and artificial diet
Various aphid species
Various aphid species
Life-history traits
Adult body size
Similar
Small
Large
Egg size
Small
Large
Small
Large
Rate of oviposition
High
Low
High
Low
Sibling cannibalism within clutch
Low
High
NA
Hatchling head size
Small
Large
Small
Large
Larval leg length
Short
Long
Short
Long
Larval behavior
Low walking ability
High walking ability
Camouflage
Camouflage with wax
Seasonality
Bivoltine (central Japan)
Univoltine
Bivoltine and a partial third generation per year
Univoltine
Critical photoperiod for diapause induction
NA
Short
Long
Interspecific reproduction
Interspecific mating attempt
Yes
Yes
Interspecific copulation
Yes
Yes
Viable hybrid offspring
No
Yes
Reproductive interference
Superior
Inferior
NA
Information on Harmonia is from Sasaji [24], Osawa and Ohashi [26], Noriyuki and Osawa [27], and Noriyuki et al. [9, 28–30]; information on Chrysopa is from Albuquerque et al. [7], Eisner et al. [31], Milbrath et al. [32], Tauber et al. [33], and C. A. Tauber and M. J. Tauber [34].
