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SEPG 2259 - Date Awarded 2003

The effect of turning bias on the foraging efficiency of the 7-spot ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)

Robbie D. Girling, Mark Hassall & Brent Emerson

Abstract

The null hypothesis that foraging male and female Coccinella septempunctata L. would not exhibit turning biases in a Y-tube olfactometer was tested. Approximately 45% of all individuals tested displayed significant turning biases. An even number of left-handed and right-handed individuals was discovered. However more males than females displayed left hand biases and more females than males displayed right hand biases. Of the ambidextrous individuals (those with no turning biases) there were an even number of males and females. The effect of these turning biases on searching efficiency in an artificial environment was tested. Turning biases had no effect on the searching efficiency of C. septempunctata in this artificial bioassay.

Full report: SEPG2259

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