What is adalia problem?

The Adalia problem is a puzzle in theoretical ecology. It is named after the Adalia bipunctata, a species of ladybird beetle. The puzzle asks why this species of ladybird beetle is so common, even though it has a low reproductive rate and is preyed upon by birds.

The Adalia problem was first posed by Alfred J. Lotka in 1925. Lotka showed that, under certain assumptions, the Adalia beetle should be driven to extinction by its predators. However, despite these assumptions, the Adalia beetle is still a common species.

There are a number of possible explanations for the Adalia problem. One possibility is that the Adalia beetle is able to coexist with its predators because it has a high rate of dispersal. This means that the beetles are able to quickly colonize new areas, even if they are being preyed upon in other areas.

Another possibility is that the Adalia beetle benefits from a type of mutualism with ants. Ants protect the Adalia beetle from predators, and in return, the Adalia beetle provides the ants with food.

The Adalia problem is a complex puzzle that has not yet been fully solved. However, it is a fascinating example of how ecological systems can be complex and unpredictable.