Generalist predators, such as spiders, ants and ladybirds, occurred on the willows but were never observed attacking the eggs.
The presence of long-term benefits in terms of fitter offspring probably indicates the evolutionary rationale behind the prevalence of promiscuity in ladybirds.
An experiment was conducted with a matchbox containing leaf fragments carrying aphids, in one case with hover fly larvae and in another with ladybird larvae.
Intra- versus inter-specific interactions in starving ladybird beetles predaceous on aphids.
On delivery, adult ladybirds were provided with a mixed culture of aphids to feed upon.
Unlike physical interference, chemical interference and its effects on reproduction in ladybirds have been more extensively studied.
For some farmers (and not always the older ones), defective eyesight was the reason for insect misidentification (usually ladybird eggs confused with aphids).
Oviposition responses to patch quality in larch ladybird persistence of these semiochemicals is likely to relate to their chemical composition.
