LABORATORY STUDIES OF THE FOOD PREFERENCES OF SOME ORCHARD CARABIDS (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE)

Abstract

Abstract Laboratory studies of the food preferences of several adult carabids showed that Amara aenea DeG., Anisodactylus sanctaecrucis F., Harpalus affinis Schr., and Stenolophus comma F. were polyphagous and readily fed on the seeds of several weeds as well as on young codling moth larvae and apple maggot pupae. H. affinis also attacked 4th and 5th instar codling moth larvae and pupae more readily than the other species. Pterostichus melanarius III. showed a strong preference for the larger prey such as 5th instar codling moth larvae, earthworms, and scarabaeid larvae. The potential of these species as predators of the codling moth and the apple maggot is discussed.