Biological Parameters of Convergent Lady Beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Feeding on Aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae) on Transgenic Potato

Abstract

We exposed larval and adult Hippodamia convergens (Guérin-Ménéville), convergent lady beetle, to Myzus persicae (Sulzer), green peach aphid, reared on potatoes expressing δ-endotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis tenebrionis. Because the toxin may be ingested by the aphid, the beetle may in turn be exposed to the toxin. However, we measured no statistically significant effect on survival, aphid consumption, development, or reproduction in beetles.