Gupta, P.R.Nisha Devi2017-06-032017-06-032012http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810017153The present studies were primarily carried out in the laboratory and partially under field conditions at Nauni, Solan during January 2009 to August 2011. Anthocorid bugs belonging to 3 genera and 5 species, viz. Anthocoris confususReuter, A. dividens Bu and Zheng, Orius bifilarusGhauri, O. nigerWolff andLippomanus brevicornis Yamada and Hirowatari, were identified on the basis of habitus, biometry and morphological features, mainly the genitalia (copulatory tube in the female and paramere in the male). Except A. confusus, all are being reported for the first time from HimachalPradesh and A. dividens and L. brevicornisare new records from India. Field activity of anthocorid bugs continued from March to November on one or other flora among the 16 plant species. Amongst these, Orius bifilaruswas the predominant one and this as well as A. dividens were amenable for laboratory rearing. The growth pattern of O. bifilarus and A. dividensin subsequent five nymphal stadia was heterogonic as the various body parts increased with varied growth rates and the growth increment adhered to Brooks-Dyar law. Developmental Biology of three anthocorids A. dividens, O. bifilarus and O. nigerwas studied. Among the 4 tested food sources for O. bifilarus, thrips from cucurbits and Corcyra cephalonica eggs proved almost equally good for completing development in 22.8 and 24.6 days with nymphmortality of 8 and 8.7% at 25 o C; a nymph required 55.3 thrips or 144.1eggs of Corcyrafor its development. At 28 o C, it took 20.1 and 20.9 days (14.8 and 13.8% mortality, respectively). Trialeurodes vaporariorum and Tetranychus urticae were poor food sources and these protracted the nymphal duration to 35.3 and 38.6 days and mortality was very high (71.9 and73.1%). The adult bug consumed 228 Corcyra eggs and 146.4 thrips during survival of 14.9 and 17.7 days, respectively. O. nigerwas difficult to rear on thrips and Corcyraeggs as the nymph mortality was high (43.8 and 49.9%, respectively). However, A. dividens was easy to rear and it completed its development on Corcyraeggs and thrips (from Bauhinia and cucurbits) in 21.8 and 25.8 days and nymph-mortality was 15.8 and 20% respectively. It required either 137.2 Corcyra eggs or 74.6 thrips for development and adult bug consumed 260.7 eggs or 109.8 thrips during its survival of 18.5 and 15.0 days, respectively. Blaptostethus pallescens Poppius (a species being advocated for biological control in India) required 208.5 Corcyra eggs for nymph development and adult consumed 296.4eggs during its survival. In all these species, feeding potential of the females were higher than that of males. B. pallescensfailed to complete its development on T. urticae and all nymphs died by IV-stadium. Gross morphology of the male reproductive system of three anthocorids, A. confusus, O. bifilarus and B. pallescenswas studied and illustrated; all these having almost round two testicular follicles in each testis. In female reproductive system of A. confusus, A. dividens, O. bifilarus and B. pallescens each ovary contained 6-7 ovarioles. Copulatory tubes measured 1.5-1.7mm in A. confusus, 0.3mm in A. dividens, 0.07-0.12mm in O. bifilarus and 0.02-0.03mm in O. niger. Fertility analysis revealed that for O. bifilarus intrinsic rate of increase was marginally higher onthrips than on Corcyra eggs (r m =0.088 and 0.085 respectively), while for A. dividens andB. pallescensreared on Corcyra eggs vaule of r m was 0.069 and 0.079, respectively. B. pallescensexhibited Holling’s type II and curvilinear type II functional response to increasing density of Corcyra eggs as prey.enMite pests, Anthocorid bugs, Predator of insect, Cultivated cropsThesis