Studies on Biology, Feeding Potential of Indigenous Coccinellid Predators and Their Mass Production

Abstract

The present investigation entitled "Studies on biology, feeding potential of indigenous predatory coccinellid beetles and their mass production" was carried out during June, 2010 to May, 2011 at CRC and Bio-controllaboratory, S.V.P. University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut. Twenty one species of predatory coccinellid beetles were recorded during survey period, out of them 17 species were identified i.e. Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fab.), Cheilomenes sexmaculata ab rofafasciata (Fab.), Coccinella septempunctata; Propylea dissecta (Muls.), Coccinella transversal/is (Fab.); Chilocoris nigrita (Fab.); Anegleis cardoni (Weise); Micraspis discolour (Mulsant); Brumoides suturalis (Fab.) 11/eis cincta (Fab.); Pharoscymnus homi (Weise); Rodolia breviuscula (Weise); Psyllobora bisoctonotata (Muls.); Hippodamia variegata (Goeze); Hat111onia axyridis (Pallas), Hydrapsis maindroni (Sicard); Scymnus nubilus (Mulsant), • on the other hand four species were unidentified. The C. sexmaculata ranked first (46°/o) in position and it was recorded as dominant species followed by C. septempunctata (30.58°/o) and C. transversalis (8.83°/o). While, least population Harmonia axyridis (1.56°/o), followed by of M. allardi (1.99°/o) and (2.37°/o} Pharoscymnus horni (261} were noticed in Meerut region. It was observed that the C. septempunctata completed their life cycle in 18-27 days. The total larval period was ranged 11-15 days, pre-pupal and pupal period was completed in 1.67±033, (ranged 1-2 days} and 5.0±0.58 days (ranged 4-6 days} respectively. The longevity of adult male was 29.33±0.88 (ranged 26-33 days) and 33.33±0.88 (ranged 31-36 days) in females. While C. sexmaculata completed their life cycle in 16-26 days. The total larval period was ranged 8-14 days, pre-pupal and pupal peripd was completed in 2.67±033, (ranged 2-3 days) and 4.67±0.33 days (ranged 4-5 days), respectively. Male and female beetles survived from 29-33 and 33-38 days with a mean survival period of 30.67±0.88 and 35.33±1.45 days, respectively. An average incubation period of C. montrouzeiri was 3.67±0.33 days (ranged 3- days) and the duration of first, second, third and four larval instars was 4.33±0.33, 6.00±0.58, 5.00±0.00 and 5.67± 0.33 days (ranged 6-7,5-7, 5.0 and 5-6 days), respectively. Prepupal and pupal period completed in 2-3 days (2.67±0.33 days) and 8 days (8.00±0.00 days}, respectively. The average longevity of adult male and female beetle was recorded 65-70 and 72-78 days with the mean of 68.67±1.45 and 75.33±2.03, respectively. The C. septempunctata consumed 1781.00±15.40 (ranged 1645-1802 aphids) and 1678.33±11.32 (ranged 1602-1701 aphids) A. craccivora T and L. erysimi by larva and adult during whole life period, respectively. The larvae and adult of C. sexmaculata consumed 1314.33±23.38 (ranged 1252-1355 aphids) and 1040.00±30.24 (ranged 995- 1115 aphids) A. craccivora and L. erysimi, respectively. On the other hand the total consumption of A. craccivora and L. erysimi, by larva and adult of C. transversalis was 1582:67±6.23 (ranged 1425-1603 aphids) and 1343.67±11.55 (ranged 1102-1390 aphids), respectively. The total number of M. hirsutus consumed by C. montrouzieri during whole larval period was varied from 233-270. While, male C. montrouzieri consumed 245.00±2.51 (ranged 230-255 M. hirsutus and the female beetle consumed 273.33±3.33 (ranged 260-290 M. hirsutus), respectively. Bean aphid, A. craccivora and pink Hibischus mealy bug, M. hirsutus were found to be the most suitable host for the mass production of predatory coccinellid beetles in laboratory condition