Method For Mass Production the Seven Spotted Lady Beetle, Coccinella Septempunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Suitable Manupulation of Egg Picking Technique

The seven-spotted ladybird, Coccinella septempunctata  (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is considered one of the most important predatory coccinellid in Egypt. Poor data are available regarding the biology and mass rearing of this predator in Egypt. Both larvae and adults of C. septempunctata fed on Bean Aphid (Aphis fabae), the adults laid their eggs in clusters, the total numbers of clusters eggs per female ranged from 1 to 25. The sex ratio 1:1. Longevity of female predator ranged from 21 to 26 days, while that of male predators ranged from 24 to 29 days. The incubation period ranged from 2 to 3 days. The larva of C. septempunctata passes through four instars. The average number of aphids consumed by each of the four instar larva are 35, 63, 96, and 290, respectively, under laboratory conditions. The total developmental period of the predator occupied from16 to 21 days under the constant conditions of 23 ± 2oC and 60 ± 5 RH%. A new method for C. septempunctata egg manipulation was developed which consists of a plastic cylindrical puts inside the rearing cages to lay eggs in it and after laying eggs-masses  transferred to a separated machine to separate the egg-masses from the cylindrical plastic and to be ready to stick on the card to release.