Factors affecting body size variation within a population of an herbivorous lady beetle,Henosepilachna niponica (Lewis)

Summary Size variation in newly-emerged adults was examined in two different local populations of an herbivorous lady beetle,Henosepilachna niponica, for 1976–80. Mean adult size of both sexes changed rather synchronously in the two populations over 5 years. Body size of adult beetles apparently decreased with increasing leaf damage of the plants on which they developed. Adult beetles which emerged late in the season, associated with increasing food deterioration, were smaller than those which emerged early. Ecological consequences of adult size variation is discussed in terms of oviposition site selection.