Biology and feeding potential of Coccinella transversalis (Fab.) on cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (Linn.)
Jesu Rajan S, Sree Latha E, Vijaya Raghavendra R and CH Sreenivasa Rao
The present investigation was conducted to study the biology and consumption rate of coccinellid predator, Coccinella transversalis (Fab.), on cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (Linn.) in the biocontrol laboratory during 2017-18 at NIPHM, Hyderabad. It was observed that, incubation period, grub period of four instars, pre pupal and pupal period was 2.5 ± 0.53, 15.1 ± 0.74, 1.2 ±0.46 and 3.1 ± 0.32 days, respectively. Oviposition period of female was 13.0 + 1.33 days with average fecundity of 205.2 ± 30.11eggs. 4th instar grubs consumed significantly more aphids when compared to 1st, 2nd and 3rd instars. Predation rate of grub (total grub period) and adult was 75 - 84 and 48 - 50 aphids/ day. Total consumption of aphids during 1st to 4th instar grub stage was 268 to 329 aphids and 2352 to 2450 aphids. C. transversalis consumed total of 2695 to 2773 aphids during its total life period from grub to adult.