Comparative Biology of Four Coccinellid Predators of Solenopsis Mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

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.