Respiration and Parasitism in Coleomegilla maculata lengi (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Diapause termination was characterized by a change in respiration rate of adult Coleomegilla maculata lengi . During the winter, the respiration rate was 0.18 ¼l O2/mg body wgt/15 min. In the summer, this rate increased to 0.34 ¼l O2/mg body wgt/15 min. The O2 consumption/temperature curve indicated maximum O2 consumption occurred at the highest temperature tested (36°C). A sharp increase of parasitism of this beetle by the braconid Perilitus coccinellae occurred in August. In September, 1976, 23% of the beetles were parasitized; in September, 1975, 40% were parasitized.