To Aphid or not to Aphid: Aphid Behavioral Changes due to Predation Risk from Lady Beetles

Sabrina Adler

Prior experiments have shown exposure predator odor cues can affect prey survival during later encounters with predators. This experiment utilized a live ethogram to document aphid (Myzus persicae) behavior during encounters with their lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis) predators. The goal of this research is to compare the behavior of aphids pre-exposed to lady beetle odors compared to naïve aphids to analyze if a behavioral difference can account for the difference in survival between the groups.

Major: 
Entomology
Exhibition Category: 
Health and Life Sciences
Exhibition Format: 
Poster Presentation
Campus: 
University Park
Faculty Sponsor: 
Sara Hermann
Poster Number: 
51781