Abstract: In laboratory conditions, the effects of environment color on development, variation of body length and weight gain, and reproduction capability of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) were investigated through rearing the beetle with differently colored containers. The results showed significant effects of different environment colors on the developmental duration of H. axyridis larvae in each instar. The total duration of postovarian development, however, was not significantly different among different color treatments although the effect of environment color on the pupal duration was significant. The different color treatments showed no significant effects on body length increase in 1st and 2nd instar, but the body length increase in 3rd instar in red color treatment was significantly less than in other color treatments. We also found significant effect of environment color on body weight gain. Especially, the weight gain in 4th instar was significantly greater than in other instars in each colored treatment and accounted for over 50% weight gain in the duration of total postovarian development. Although the mating duration of H. axyridis was not significantly different among different color treatments, the pre-oviposition duration was significantly shorter in yellow and green treatments than in other treatments. In addition, the observation results of fecundity showed that the accumulated amount of eggs in 48 h was significantly less in red and natural light treatments than in other treatments.

Key words: Harmonia axyridis, environment color, development, body length, body weight, pre-oviposition duration, fecundity