Investigations were carried out during 2018-2019 to study the effect of different geographical locations of North-Western Himalayas on biology and predation efficiency of Andrallus spinidens thriving in different crop ecosystems. Present analysis showed that there was no siginicant difference in predation efficiency and biology of A. spinidens from different altitudes of five different locations. Incubation period of predatory bugs varied from 6.41 ± 0.09 to 6.77 ± 0.29 days. Total nymphal period varied from 16.33 ± 0.67 to 18.67 ± 0.88 days. Adult longevity of unmated male and female ranged from 12 ± 1 to 13.66 ± 1.86 and 17.32 ± 0.88 to 19.33 ± 0.67 days, respectively. Adult longevity of mated male and female ranged from 4.66 ± 0.33 to 9 ± 0.58 and 11.67 ± 0.88 to 15 ± 0.58 days, respectively. Survival rate of female predatory bugs was observed longer than unmated male predatory bugs. In their first nymphal instar, predatory bug feed on plant sap, while the second instar nymph prey on its laboratory host, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptea: Noctuidae). The predation efficiency of the adult male varied from 57.54 ± 1.48 to 63.50 ± 1.92 per cent, whereas, in adult females it varied from 64.58 to 67.58 ± 0.73 per cent. By comparing the predation efficiency of adult A. spinidens from all five geographical locations it was observed that female predatory bugs are better predators than male predatory bugs. The study showed that no significant differences were observed in the biology or predatory efficiency of A. spinidens when present in different climatic and geographical locations. This suggested that the predator has adapted itself in different climatic conditions by maintaining its biological attributes which enhance the success rate of its potential as predator on commercial level.
Keywords
Andrallus spinidens, Biology, Biological Control, Predation Efficiency, Predator.
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