STUDIES ON HOST RANGE, FEEDING CAPACITY AND BEHAVIOUR OF THE COCCINELLID BEETLE, MENOCHILUS SEXMACULATA FABR. UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS AT RAIPUR CHHATTISGARH

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Date
2019
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Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur
Abstract
Investigation on “Studies on host range, feeding capacity and behaviour of the coccinellid beetle, Menochilus sexmaculata Fabr. under laboratory conditions at Raipur, Chhattisgarh.” Menochilus sexmaculata at Raipur,Chhattisgarh.” were carried out at COA, IGKV, Raipur during August 2018 to July 2019. The lady bird beetle Menochilus sexmaculata is one of the most common predators of soft bodied sucking insects. All stages of M. sexmaculata feed on aphids, coccids and mealybugs. It has been used in the biological control of insect pests on crops. Coccinellids undergo complete metamorphosis with distinct egg, larval, pupal and adult stages. About 6000 species of Coccinellid beetles are known worldwide. They are of great economic importance as predators both in their larval and adult stages on various important crop pests.M. sexmaculata is a generalist insect predator and feeds on a wide range of insects specially aphids. In the present studies feeding preference of M.sexmaculata was studied on various hosts viz., A. craccivora, S.bougainvilleae, A.nerii, L. erysimi, H. coriandri, Macrosiphoniella sanborni, A. punicae and mealybug Ferrisia virgata by providing counted number of various hosts for total average number of consumption.Maximum feeding preference of 1st , 2nd , 3rd , 4th instar grub of M. sexmaculata was recorded in A. craccivora 38.00%, 36.00%, 32.00%, 38.00% respectively and minimum in case of i.e. 10.00%,8.00%,10.00%, 6.00% reared on Ferrisia virgata. Maximum feeding preference of adult male and female of M. sexmaculata was recorded in A. craccivora 32.00%, 34.00%, and minimum in case of i.e. 12.00%, 8.00% reared on Ferrisia virgata. Feeding capacity of M.sexmaculata were studied on different species of aphids viz A. craccivora, S. bougainvilleae, A.nerii, L. erysimi, M.sanborni, H. coriandri, A.punicae indicated that the feeding capacity increased consequently from 1st , 2nd ,3rd and 4th instars by consuming an average number of 8.00, 17.50, 43.75, 59.50 A. craccivora ; 13.50, 37.50, 47.00, 55.50 of S. bougainvilleae ; 12.63, 33.50, 43.50, 52.25 A.nerii 12.75, 33.75, 44.25, 67.75 of L. erysimi ; 7.88, 21.00, 27.50, 38.00 of M. sanborni ; 9.88, 23.50, 38.25, 47.63 of H. coriandri ;13.13, 25.00, 42.25, 58.38 of A.punicae respectively. Maximum number of aphid consumption was by adult female 92.76, 92.49, 88.37, 82.27, 88.47, 86.49 and 90.69 aphids of A. craccivora, S. bougainvilleae, A.nerii, L. erysimi, M. sanborni, H. coriandri and A.punicae respectively. Adult female beetles showed better predation than grubs. In the present investigation, in studies on feeding behaviour it was found that 1st instar of M. sexmaculata took longer period of time for searching the prey i.e. 509.04 seconds and devouring time of 1676 seconds. Adult female took shortest devouring time of 19.8 seconds time to search the prey In the studies on biology of M. sexmaculata Minimum incubation period was recorded in A. craccivora (1.50 days) and maximum in case of L. erysimi i.e. 3.00 days. Minimum total grub period was recorded on M. sexmaculata reared on A. craccivora (5.80 days) and maximum in M. sexmaculata reared on L. erysimi (10.30 days). The minimum pupal period was found in M. sexmaculata reared on A. craccivora (6.6 days), whereas maximum in M. sexmaculata reared on L. erysimi (3.30 days) respectively. The minimum total developmental period of adult male and female was found in M. sexmaculata fed on A. nerii (21.6 days, 28.7 and maximum in M. sexmaculata fed on L. erysimi 25.1 days, 31.2 days respectively. Studies on the reproductory behavior revealed that the duration of mating was maximum 112.8±12.86 second. when an unmated male mated with a virgin female and minimum time of 58.5±15.69 second in case of a mated male with mated female M. sexmaculata mated frequently in a single day (3-7 times) mean 5.1±1.20 in per day. Pre-mating period of M.sexmaculata in the present studies was found to be of 5.5±0.85days. The mean pre-oviposition period was 2.7±0.82 days, oviposition period was 16.1±3.57 days; and post oviposition period was 3.8±1.03days, in case of female M. sexmaculatus fed on A. craccivora respectively. Biometrics of various stages ie length of. M. sexmaculata viz. egg, first, second, third and fourth instar grubs, pupa, male and female adults were : 1.07, 1.49, 4.15, 5.92, 7.10, 4.20, 4.68 and 6.26 mm respectively and similarly width were 0.47, 0.47, 1.61, 1.76, 1.81, 2.78, 3.86 and 4.40 mm respectively.
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STUDIES ON HOST RANGE, FEEDING CAPACITY AND BEHAVIOUR OF THE COCCINELLID BEETLE, MENOCHILUS SEXMACULATA FABR. UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS AT RAIPUR CHHATTISGARH
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