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R. Maruthadurai ¹, R. D. Gautam ¹, P. Mahesh ¹

Affiliations
1 Biological Control Laboratory, Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, IN

Abstract

Bioassay with hexane extracts of male and female whole body wash of host insects viz., Earias vittella and Spodoptera litura with Trichogramma brasiliensis revealed their kairomonal activities. Whole body extracts of male and female moths were analysed separately by gas chromatography for determining their hydrocarbon profile, which showed the presence of straight chain saturated hydrocarbons ranging from C₈ to C₃₅. The concentration of these hydrocarbons ranged from 0.02 µg/g to 2579 µg/g of insect extract. Both the host insects showed variation in number and concentration of these chemicals, which were responsible for influencing the parasitoid activity, parasitism and emergence. The foraging activity of the parasitoid as indicated by parasitoid activity index (PAI) was highest (12.00) in S. litura male body extract at concentration C₄ (1000 ppm) followed by (10.83) in E. vittella female body extract at C₅ (10,000 ppm) by T. brasiliensis. Maximum percentage parasitism of (45.55) and emergence (12.50) was observed at concentration C₄ in S. litura male body extract followed by E. vittella female body extract. Highest overall response was recorded in egg cards treated with whole body wash of male and female of S. litura and E. vittella, respectively, which may be attributed to the presence of more number of favourable saturated hydrocarbons viz.; heneicosane, tricosane, pentacosane, hexacosane, octacosane, and nonacosane, as revealed by GC. These favourable hydrocarbons at appropriate concentration of body extract of E. vittella female and S. litura male could be used for enhancing parasitization by T. brasiliensis.

Keywords

Semiochemical, Kairomone, Earias vittella, Spodoptera Litura, Trichogramma brasiliensis.

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Sudhida Gautam ¹, R. Maruthadurai ¹, R. D. Gautam ¹

Affiliations
1 Biological Control Laboratory, Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, IN

Abstract

A semi-synthetic diet named as the power packed green lacewing feed (PPGF), comprising whey protein, soybean granules, proteinex powder and glucon mixed in equal quantity by weight, was developed for Mallada desjardinsi (Navas) for increasing its reproductive potential. The cost of 1000g PPGF was worked out to be Rs. 621.00 (approx. US $14). It had a shelf life of four months at 5-10°C. The females of M. desjardinsi survived for 49 days when fed on the diet stored for eight weeks, on par with the control (58 days). Thereafter, survival declined to the lowest (16.8 days) when fed with the diet stored for 15 weeks. The predator laid maximum eggs (811.2/female) on the diet stored for four weeks, on par with that on diet stored up to eight weeks (774 eggs/female) and the control (888 eggs/female). The fecundity declined to the lowest (220.6 eggs) on PPGF stored for 15 weeks. Per cent hatchability was on par for up to eight weeks and declined significantly, with 33% on the diet stored for 15 weeks. In PPGF+honey (20%) feed combination, another peak of egg laying was recorded in females after 4^th week, whereas egg laying ceased in females that were fed with only 20% honey after the 4^th week. The females survived for up to 9 weeks maintaining productive age of more than eight weeks. PPGF+honey (20%) offered to the adults of M. astur also enhanced the fecundity (668.0) as against the control (292.14). Besides, other biological attributes were not affected due to the feeding on PPGF. These studies suggest a great potential for commercialization of PPGF in order to promote cheaper production and field utilization of green lacewings.

Keywords

PPGF, Multiplication, Mallada desjardinsi, M. astur, Shelf Life.

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Babasaheb B. Fand Babasaheb ¹, R. D. Gautam ¹, Sachin S. Suroshe ²

Affiliations
1 Biological Control Laboratory, Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, IN
2 National Research Center on Pomegranate, Solapur 413 255, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

The predatory performance of four coccinellid predators, viz., Hyperaspis maindroni, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, Nephus regularis and Scymnus coccivora, was studied on Phenacoccus solenopsis under laboratory conditions at 27 ± 2°C and 65 ± 5% RH. The grubs of all the four predators preferred to prey upon second instar mealybugs followed by third instars and adults when given the choice and fourth instar grubs were the most voracious. The overall predation by the grubs of C. montrouzieri (170.40 mealybugs) was significantly higher than that of the rest of the species. The rate of predation was dependent on developmental period and per day consumption of grubs of all the stages decreased with increase in size of the mealybug. Mean number of P. solenopsis individuals consumed and number of eggs laid per day by the females of all the predators increased gradually with prey density from lower to higher densities, but at a decreased rate.

Keywords

Phenacoccus solenopsis, Hyperaspis maindroni, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, Feeding Potential, Nephus regularis, Scymnus coccivora, Starvation Potential.

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Babasaheb B. Fand ¹, R. D. Gautam ¹, Sachin S. Suroshe ²

Affiliations
1 Biological Control Laboratory, Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, IN
2 National Research Center on Pomegranate (ICAR), Solapur, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

The biology of four important species of coccinellid predators, viz., Hyperaspis maindroni, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, Nephus regularis and Scymnus coccivora associated with solenopsis mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis, infesting cotton and other crops of economic importance was studied in the laboratory @ 27±2°C and 65±5% RH. The overall developmental time (including adult longevity) of C. montrouzieri was found significantly longer (97.80±1.32 days) than the rest of the species which ranged between 58.60±2.38 and 72.40±2.11 days. Females generally had longer developmental durations than males, irrespective of the species. The females of C. montrouzieri laid an average of 510.00±9.73 eggs in their oviposition period of 62.20±3.14 and this was longer than the others. In all the species, female started egg laying in the 2^nd week of their adult life and reached the peak between 3^rd and 6^th weeks.

Keywords

Hyperaspis maindroni, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, Developmental Durations, Longevity, Nephus regularis, Phenacoccus solenopsis, Scymnus coccivora.

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R. Maruthadurai ¹, R. D. Gautam ¹

Affiliations
1 Biological Control Laboratory, Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, IN

Abstract

The green lacewing, Mallada astur (Banks) was reared on frozen grubs of red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum Herbst. The incubation period, larval period and pupal period were 3.0-3.3 days, 8.70-9.30 days and 9.10-10.40 days, respectively and total life cycle was completed in 20.8-22.7 days and continuous rearing for 5 generations did not alter any biological parameter significantly. The total immature mortality was 21 per cent and larval survival 76.66 per cent, when fed on a-week-old frozen prey. On prey stored at -4 to -6°C for a period of four weeks, survival was 46.5 per cent and it declined to 38.8 per cent after 42 days as against 85.5 per cent in control. A slight increase in developmental period was noticed with increase in cold storage of the prey beyond four weeks. These studies suggest that frozen grubs of T. castaneum are suitable for the multiplication of M. astur. The production of red flour beetle is cheaper than producing equivalent quantity of rice meal moth eggs, which are presently used for large scale production of the green lacewings.

Keywords

Mallada astur, Multiplication, Tribolium castaneum.

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Sachin S. Suroshe ¹, R. D. Gautam ¹, B. F Babasaheb ¹

Affiliations
1 Biological Control Laboratory, Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, (ICAR), New Delhi 110 012, IN

Abstract

Recently, Indian cotton belt experienced a devastating outbreak of Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley. Natural enemy complex associated with P. solenopsis was explored by conducting extensive field surveys coupled with laboratory screening of samples collected from various localities across the country. A total of seventeen parasitoids inclusive of hyperparasitoids were identified. An encyrtid, Aenasius bambawalei Hayat, was found predominantly on P. solenopsis. Promuscidea unfasciativentris Girault predominated the hyperparasitic fauna. Interestingly, Aphanogmus sp. and Anastatus sp. were recorded for the first time on P. solenopsis. Additionally, eight species of Coccinellidae and two species of Chrysopidae were recovered as important predators.

Keywords

Aenasius bambawalei, Hyper-Parasitoid, Phenacoccus solenopsis, Parasitoid, Predator, Survey.

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Gautam Sudhida ¹, A. K. Singh ¹, R. D. Gautam ²

Affiliations
1 Insect Behaviour Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110005, IN
2 Biological Control Laboratory, Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, IN

Abstract

Life tables of two chrysopid predators, viz., Chrysoperla sp. (carnea-group) and Mallada desjardinsi (Navas) on the invasive mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis (also reported as P. solani), were prepared in the laboratory to determine the efficacy of the predators as biocontrol agents of the pest. The rate of mortality (qx) during 0-7 days age interval was higher in Chrysoperla sp. (carnea-group) (0.28) than in M. desjardinsi (0.22) while it was reverse during 70-77 days age interval when reared on P. solenopsis. In fact, qx was higher in M. desjardinsi (2.50) than in Chrysoperla sp. (carnea-group) (0.00). The rate of multiplication per day was 0.1159 and 0.1414 females/female for Chrysoperla sp. (carnea-group) and M. desjardinsi, respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was found to be 0.11 for both the predators. Chrysoperla sp. (carnea-group) population multiplied 62.80 times in a generation time of 35.72 days on the mealybug, whereas M. desjardinsi multiplied 67.12 times in a time period of 29.75 days. Life table assays help in estimating the total number of the natural enemies to be released in biological control programmes. This study would be of paramount importance in estimating the total number of the natural enemies to be released in biological control programmes against the mealybug, which is exotic.

Keywords

Green Lacewing, Chrysoperla Sp. (Carnea-Group), Mallada desjardinsi, Phenacoccus solenopsis, Life Table, Fecundity Table, Intrinsic Growth Rate.

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R. Bhoopathi ¹, Sudhida Gautam ¹, R. D. Gautam ¹, Subhash Chander ¹

Affiliations
1 Biological Control Laboratory, Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, IN

Abstract

Life tables were constructed under Delhi conditions for Zygogramma bicolorata in order to determine the key mortality factor acting on the species. The pupal stage was found to be the key mortality stage that contributed most to the overall mortality followed by egg stage. Pupal malformation, failure to lay eggs and infertility were prominent mortality factors. The main cause of mortality of older larvae was their inability to burrow into hard and dry soil for pupation. Besides, weather factors in general were found to have an effect on all developmental stages of Z. bicolorata. The sex ratio was biased towards females with their proportion being 0.6-0.7. The generation trend index was very high (272.21) during July followed by October (231.07) and August (199.40). The generation mortality was low during June-October while it was high during January, May and December.

Keywords

Life Table, Zygogramma Bicolorata, Parthenium hysterophorus.

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R. D. Gautam ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi -110 012, IN

Abstract

Adults of Menochilus sexmaculatus (F.) were fed on several hosts and their effect on the longevity, fecundity and egg size of the predator was studied. Longevity of adult M. sexmaculatus fed on mealy bugs ranged from 22.71 to 40.14 days in males and from 26.14 to 42.71 days in females. In case of those fed on S. litura and C. cephalonica, the period ranged from 2.57 to 3.86 days in both sexes. On an average, 85.71, 22.85, 9.85 and 725.14 eggs were laid by a female when they were fed on Ferrisia vitgata, F. vitgata + Planococcus pacificus, P. pacificus and control (aphids), respectively, Little influence was found on egg size due to feeding on different hosts. Also percentage of egg hatching ranged from 84.22 to 93.65 as against 100 in control.

Keywords

Menochilus sexmaculatus, Host Influence, Ferrisia virgata, Planococcus pacificus, Multiplication.

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R. D. Gautam ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, IN

Abstract

Adults of Menochilus sexmaculata (Fabr.) reared on the striped mealybug, Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell) showed no particular preference to different substrata Viz., jar surface, tissue paper or potato as indicated by the percentage of egg-laying which was 36.51, 36.23 and 29.10, respectively. However, when fed on aphids [Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.) and Aphis gossypit Glover] it preferred to lay maximum eggs (71.75%) on cotton twigs. Rearing of M. sexmaculata either on mealybug using tissue paper or aphids with cotton twigs as substrata upto 4th week (Productive age) may be adopted as 73.44-81.47 % eggs with 91.35-100.00 % hatching are obtained In this period. Thereafter, adults may be discarded In order to save laboratory host.

Keywords

Menochilus sexmaculata, Ferrisia virgata, Substrata, Age Effect on Oviposition, Multiplication.

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