Download or read book Insect Predator-Prey Dynamics written by A. F. G. Dixon and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2005-07-21 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ladybird beetles are typical predators that feed on a wide range of insect prey, and have been used extensively in the biocontrol of insect pests. This volume explores basic ladybird biology, in particular, their close association with prey and its effect on their rate of development and body size. The author uses optimal foraging theory, field observations, and laboratory experiments to illustrate how ladybird larvae maximize their rate of energy intake, and ladybird adults their fitness. The interdependence of these life history parameters is then used to develop a simple predator-prey model that, combined with an analysis of the literature, highlights the specific attributes of potentially successful biocontrol agents for all those interested in predator-prey dynamics.