Searching by Adalia bipunctata (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and escape behaviour of its aphid and cicadellid prey on lime (Tilia×vulgaris Hayne)

• 1 The paper describes the behavioural interactions between searching larvae of Adalia bipunctata and its aphid and cicadellid prey on lime (Tilia×vulgaris Hayne).
• 2 The frequency with which the predator achieves contact with cicadellid nymphs of differing ages is related to direction of predator approach and predator perception by the cicadellid.
• 3 The success of a coccinellid in contacting and capturing its aphid prey is related to the predator's size and direction of approach, the perception of the predator by an aphid and the latter's ability to escape, the effectiveness of which is discussed.