What Do Sevenspotted Lady Beetle Adults Really Eat?
The sevenspotted lady beetle (Coccinella septempunctata) is a European introduction to North America. Although their primary food source is aphids, they do feed on other foods as well. During a two year study, adult sevenspotted lady beetles were collected throughout the year in wheat, oat and rye fields at three locations in Germany. The different food types ingested was determined using gut dissection. During the course of the year the composition of the gut contents changed as the lady beetles went through their seasonal cycle. The alimentary canal was generally empty when the beetles came out of hibernation. In the spring, as the lady beetles began dispersing, soil particles, fungal spores, and aphids were found most frequently in the gut. Feeding on pollen was also observed in the spring, but only 6% of the beetles dissected had pollen in their gut. During the summer, when the beetles were reproducing, aphid remains were present in over 85% of the individuals. Surprisingly fungal
