Podisus maculiventris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Predation on Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Adult Podisus maculiventris (Say) consumed no adult ladybird beetles (Harmonia axyridis Pallas) and 30-35% of larval ladybird beetles in no-choice laboratory trials. Nymphal P. maculiventris appeared to be more agile than adults in petri dishes and attacked 65% of both larval and adult H. axyrides; however, they only killed and consumed 50% of larvae and 20% of adult ladybird beetles. Ladybird beetle larvae were aggressive and often escaped, whereas adult beetles were usually rejected by the nymphal predators, suggesting unpalatability. Overall, P. maculiventris took more than four times longer to capture ladybeetle larvae than to capture fall armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda [J. E. Smith]). In nature, while some ladybird beetles are undoubtedly consumed by P. maculiventris, most probably escape predation, either by evasion or through lack of palatability.