Development and Reproduction of Propylaea japonica (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Raised on Aphis gossypii (Homoptera: Aphididae) Fed Transgenic Cotton

A laboratory experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of transgenic cotton containing Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) Cry1Ac toxin on the survival, development, and fecundity of a predatory ladybeetle, Propylaea japonica (Thunberg), through a food chain using cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover as an herbivorous prey. No significant differences were observed in total survival from hatching to adult, or in larval and pupal durations of P. japonica supplied with aphids fed on either transgenic or non-transgenic cotton. Similarly, no significant differences in longevity, reproduction, weight, or fatty acid contents of adult beetles were detected. Our results suggest that this type of transgenic cotton might have little effect on the survival, development, and fecundity of P. japonica through this food chain.