Ten aphid species wcre used as prey for Adalia bipunctata and six of them (Euceraphis betulae, Cavariella konoi, Liosomaphis berberidis, Acyrthosiphon ignotum, Aphis farinosa and Macrosiphoniella artemisiae) are new essential preys for this coccinellid. Eucallipterus tiliae and E. betulae were the most suitable prey according to the rate of larval development, larval mortality, adult fresh weight and coccinellid abundance in the field. They are followed by L. berberidis, C. konoi and Tuberculatus annulatus. M. artemisiae and A. ignotum are also very profitable food in the laboratory, but they do not occur in the field together with A. bipunctata. A. farinosa from Salix caprea and Aphis fabae from Philadelphus coronarius were not very suitable as food due to the larval mortality (27% and 23%, respectively). A. fabae from Atriplex sagittata was an unsuitable prey: larval mortality was 67% and the adults that emerged as the survivors had the lowest weight recorded in this series of experiments. Aphis spiraephaga was also unsuitable prey: all 1st instar larvae of A. bipunctata died, even though slowly.