However, relatively few studies have examined this possibility ( Rausher 1979, Williams 1981, Grossmueller and Lederhouse 1985, Rodriguez et al. Although egg and pupal stages of insects are immobile, ovipositing females and wandering prepupal larvae should be able to seek out thermal microhabitats suitable for the subsequent life cycle stage. As has been studied intensively in reptiles, ectothermic animals depend on the availability and distribution of thermal microhabitats to regulate their body temperatures ( Christian and Tracy 1981, 1985, Waldschmidt and Tracy 1983, Tracy and Christian 1986, Adolph 1990, Diaz 1997, Rock et al. Thermal conditions of microhabitats are especially important for physiological and ecological performance ( Huey 1991). Microhabitat selection by an animal within a heterogeneous environment should maximize its fitness in terms of feeding rate, growth rate, and avoidance of natural enemies ( Rosenzweig 1991).
![coccinella septempunctata habitat coccinella septempunctata habitat](https://www.prairiehaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Coccinella-septempunctata-07-19-2009.jpg)
Thermal microhabitat, oviposition site preference, pupation site preference, life-cycle polymorphism, human activity Thermal microhabitat use enables these beetles to complete an additional generation in winter. Prey aphids were also abundant during the winter. Although ambient winter air temperatures of this region were not high enough for the beetles to complete their development, the use of thermal microhabitats enabled them to do so by thermal conduction.
![coccinella septempunctata habitat coccinella septempunctata habitat](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_GnRbKdy_HDM/TN08NoarIcI/AAAAAAAAHeA/tl6vrZnOlp4/s1600/COCCINELLA-SEPTEMPUNCTATA.jpg)
The artificial substrates were relatively easily warmed by solar radiation and were therefore used as thermal microhabitats by the beetle. We found that, even though natural substrates were available, the beetle preferred to use artificial substrates such as metal cans (iron or aluminum), papers, and wooden materials discarded on the slope as oviposition and pupation sites. We studied microhabitat use patterns of this beetle in winter on a sunny slope of a southeast-facing riverbank. However, variations in life cycle within populations have been observed: hibernating and reproductive adults simultaneously coexist in the same habitat in winter. Thermal microhabitat use enables these beetles to complete an additional generation in winter.Most central Honshu populations of the ladybird beetle, Coccinella septempunctata L., pass the winter as quiescent adults.
![coccinella septempunctata habitat coccinella septempunctata habitat](https://www.jardiner-autrement.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/sevenspotted-lady-beetle-coccinella-septempunctata-adults-photo-by-david-cappaert.jpg)
Most central Honshu populations of the ladybird beetle, Coccinella septempunctata L., pass the winter as quiescent adults.