Are the effects of hunger stage-specific? A case study in an aphidophagous ladybird beetle.

Food availability is a fundamental factor determining an animal's potential fitness. Carry-over effects of food limitation from development to adulthood are known to influence reproduction, ageing, and tolerance to stress. We have examined the effect of stage-specific variation (before adult emergence or pre-emergence, post-emergence and post-mating) in food availability in Propylea dissecta (Mulsant). Larvae were reared separately on two different pre-emergence food regimes (abundant or restricted) until pupation. Newly emerged adults were further split into two groups and placed on abundant or restricted post-emergence regimes. After mating, females were split and reared on any one of two post-mating regimes. The results revealed that: (i) time to commence mating declined with increased food availability in pre- and post-emergence stages, (ii) mating duration increased with food availability post-emergence, (iii) highest reproduction output was observed in individuals who had abundant food pre- and post-emergence. However, food availability at the time of oviposition also had a strong influence on fecundity. Solo bouts of scarcity, regardless of which stage suffered them, were effectively managed in at least two of the three stages (pre-emergence, post-emergence, post-mating) had abundant food.