The influence of solitary versus group rearing on the development and survival of the three-striped ladybird beetle Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius) was studied using two aphid species, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) and Aphis gossypii Glover, as diet. Rearing pattern (solitary or group) had no significant influence on the success of rearing, but prey species did. While immature stages developed faster on A. pisum, the survival of early instars was higher on A. gossypii. Diet had no effect on pupal survival.