author(s)
Amrit Mohapatra, Subhalaxmi Roy and Bijoy Kumar Mishra

abstract
Laboratory studies on the “Feeding potential of Zygogramma bicolorata on Parthenium hysterophorus at different temperatures” was taken up in Department of Entomology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, SOADU during 2019-20. It was observed that the feeding potential of different stages of the insect was highest at 30 ⁰C followed by 25 ⁰C. But at 20 ⁰C and 35 ⁰C, the parameters showed declining trends indicating that 25-30 ⁰C is the best for rearing of these predatory beetles in the laboratory. As evidenced from the experiments, it was seen all stages like the second, third and fourth instars as well as the male and females also less at 20 and 35 ⁰C whereas, it was higher at 25 and 30 ⁰C. The first instar larvae consumed 2.5mg parthenium leaves at 20 ⁰C whereas, the corresponding figures were 2.8 and 3.1 mg at 25 and 30 ⁰C. Similarly, the feeding was higher at 25 and 30 ⁰C for second, third and fourth instar larvae and adults. Therefore, it was evidenced that 25-30 ⁰C is the best temperature for rearing of these biocontrol agents and at this temperature also the feeding potential was the highest.