The study examined the kin-recognition ability in the third and fourth instars of two predatory ladybirds, Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) and Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius), by investigating the impact of relatedness, food quality and hunger on the avoidance of kin-cannibalism. Higher instars of both species cannibalized more non-relative first instars than the relative ones, suggesting that they can distinguish kin and abstain from cannibalizing them. The frequency of cannibalism among these larvae increased when victims were fed on dissimilar and unsuitable diets compared to those fed on the same diet as the cannibals. Cannibalistic tendencies were delayed when victims were fed on the same and appropriate diet. Fourth instars of both species had greater encounters with victims whose diets differed. Hungrier larvae of both species had more encounters and incidences of cannibalism with a shorter latency period than their satiated counterparts. It is inferred that hunger, lack of access to natural food, and challenges during molting or pupation instigate ladybird instars to engage in cannibalism. Nevertheless, when relatives are presented as food, the frequency of larval cannibalism decreases. The rate of cannibalism was higher in M. sexmaculatus compared to H. variegata, as the former is a more aggressive predator.

该研究通过调查亲缘关系、食物质量和饥饿对避免同类相食的影响，检验了两种掠食性瓢虫（ Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) 和Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius) ）第三龄和第四龄的亲属识别能力。这两个物种的较高龄虫比有亲缘关系的第一龄虫吃掉更多的非亲缘第一龄虫，这表明它们可以区分亲缘并避免吃掉它们。与食人者相同的饮食相比，当受害者接受不同且不合适的饮食时，这些幼虫同类相食的频率就会增加。当受害者得到相同且适当的饮食时，同类相食的倾向就会被推迟。这两个物种的第四龄都更多地遇到了饮食不同的受害者。与饱足的幼虫相比，饥饿的幼虫有更多的遭遇和同类相食的发生，潜伏期也更短。据推测，饥饿、缺乏天然食物以及蜕皮或化蛹过程中的挑战会促使瓢虫进行同类相食的行为。然而，当亲缘植物被作为食物时，幼虫同类相食的频率就会减少。M的同类相食率较高。sexmaculatus与H相比。variegata，因为前者是更具攻击性的掠食者。