Abstract A standardized laboratory procedure tested the limb regeneration abilities of 18 populations (16 species) of lady beetles which were then scored, relative to unoperated controls, based on survival, the proportion regenerating the limb completely or partially, and the magnitude of developmental costs (delayed development, reduced body size) associated with limb ablation. Newly molted fourth instar larvae each had a single foreleg amputated at the base of the femur. All species except Propylea dissecta (Mulsant) showed some complete limb regeneration, with limb regeneration index (LRI) scores ranging from 0.025 to 0.905 out of a possible 1.00 (mean = 0.598). Eriopis connexa Germar, an aphidophagous neotropical species, scored the highest. Widely distributed species that dominate agricultural habitats all scored above 0.75, and the only herbivore, Henosepilachna argus (Geoffroy), scored second from lowest. Prolonged pupal development was the most common cost, occurring in nine species, and correlating negatively with regeneration. Taxonomic distance between species correlated with regeneration, but explained <5% of variation; principal component analysis indicated that the LRI was the main factor distinguishing species. We infer that this capacity is conserved, not because of any adaptive advantage conferred, but because the genes responsible are normally activated during pupal development to generate the adult body plan and reconstitute appendages with direct correspondence to larval progenitors. However, good regeneration capacity was associated with the ecological success of the species. In general, broad geographic distribution, guild dominance, polyphagy, interspecific competitiveness, phenotypic flexibility, and invasiveness were characteristics generally shared by species with high levels of regeneration.

中文翻译：

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瓢虫科在变态过程中的肢体再生能力是广泛保守的

摘要 标准化的实验室程序测试了 18 个瓢虫种群（16 种）的肢体再生能力，然后根据存活率、完全或部分再生肢体的比例以及发育成本的大小，相对于未手术的对照对这些甲虫的肢体再生能力进行评分。发育迟缓、体型减小）与肢体消融相关。新蜕皮的四龄幼虫每只在股骨基部都有一条前肢被截肢。除 Propylea dissecta (Mulsant) 外的所有物种都显示出一些完全的肢体再生，肢体再生指数 (LRI) 得分范围为 0.025 至 0.905，可能为 1.00（平均值 = 0.598）。Eriopis connexa Germar 是一种食蚜蝇的新热带物种，得分最高。占主导地位的农业栖息地分布广泛的物种的得分均高于 0.75，唯一的食草动物 Henosepilachna argus (Geoffroy) 得分倒数第二。延长蛹发育是最常见的成本，发生在九个物种中，并且与再生呈负相关。物种之间的分类距离与再生相关，但解释了 <5% 的变异；主成分分析表明LRI是区分物种的主要因素。我们推断这种能力是保守的，不是因为赋予了任何适应性优势，而是因为负责的基因通常在蛹发育过程中被激活以产生成虫身体计划并重建与幼虫祖细胞直接对应的附属物。然而，良好的再生能力与该物种的生态成功有关。一般来说，广泛的地理分布，公会优势，多食，