Feeding potential of predator, Cryptolaemus Montrouzieri on Planococcus Citri and Paracoccus Marginatus Naik S. Srinivas1, Suganthy M., Kumar S. Mohan2, Jegadeeswari V.3 1Department of Agricultural Entomology, Centre for Plant Protection Studies 2Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (CPMB&B) 3Department of Spices and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641003 *corresponding author Email: sabhavats1@gmail.com
Online published on 4 January, 2018. Abstract Laboratory experiment was conducted in the Department of Agricultural Entomology, TNAU, Coimbatore during 2014–2015 to determine the feeding potential of grubs and adults of coccinellid predator Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, against first to third instar nymphs of Planococcus citri and ovisacs, and second instar nymphs and adults of Paracoccus marginatus. The grubs and adults fed 1408.80±134.83, 443.20±47.83 and 232.80±21.39 first, second and third instar nymphs of P. citri to complete their life stages, respectively; while the first instar grubs fed 129.60±2.88, 31.80±2.77 and 18.20±1.20 first, second and third instar nymphs of P. citri, respectively. The third and fourth instars were voracious and consumed 278.60±5.81, 88.00±2.74, 48.80±2.59 and 389.20±4.97, 124.20±2.59 and 56.40±4.83 first, second and third instar nymphs of P. citri, respectively. The predation rates of the grubs and adults of C. montrouzieri was 15±0.89, 231.20±31.69 and 91.60±12.90 ovisacs, nymphs and adults in case of P. marginatus; in case of first instar grubs it was observed to be 1.40±0.55, 14.40±1.52 and 2.40±1.14 ovisacs, nymphs and adults, respectively. The third and fourth instar grubs were voracious and consumed 2.60±0.55, 38.20±2.86, 20.80±0.84 and 3.40±0.44, 62.60±5.77 and 25.80±1.30 ovisacs, nymphs and adults of P. marginatus, respectively. These data indicate that there is a greater scope for utilization of this predator in the IPM of sucking pests of cocoa. Top Keywords Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, grubs, instars, adults, Planococcus citri, Paracoccus marginatus, cocoa, nymphs, ovisacs, adults. Top |