The Spotted Lady Beetle, Coleomegilla maculata (De Geer), as a Predator of European Corn Borer Eggs1

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Abstract
The spotted lady beetle, Coleomegilla maculata (De G.), is a known predator of the eggs of the European corn borer, Pyrausta nubilalis (Him.), but the actual extent of control had never been Devised for collecting the fecula of the spotted lady beetle and other predators found on corn plants were characterized and a method devised for collecting these pellets beneath the site of borer eggs. By examining the fecula, it could be determined whether this beetle had fed, In two different fields under observation 16.5 and 15.3% of the eggs were fed upon. Studies on food preference and potential egg consumption showed that the spotted lady beetle would feed only upon pollen, pea aphids, Macrosiplmm pisi (Harr.), or eggs of the European corn borer, when these foods were on appropriate plants, in this case older corn leaves and alfalfa. It was found that the number of eggs an individual adult spotted lady beetle could consunms averaged 59.4 per day. Temperature and rainfall had no significant effect upon feedling.

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