Production protocol for and storage efficacy of an anthocorid predator Cardiastethus exiguus Poppius

Cardiastethus exiguus Poppius is an indigenous anthocorid predator of eggs and neonates of the notorious pest,coconut black-headed caterpillar Opisina arenosella Walker in India.At the National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects(Indian Council of Agricultural Research),Bangalore,India,a simple mass production protocol was developed for multiplying C.exiguus using UV-irradiated eggs of alternate laboratory host Corcyra cephalonica Stainton.Field evaluation of the predator in the states of Kerala and Karnataka indicated that this predator could bring about a significant reduction in the pest population.Subsequently,the need was felt to investigate the storage efficacy of the eggs and adults of C.exiguus so that sufficient numbers could be accumulated and transportation of the predator could be planned for field releases.Low temperature storage studies indicated that C.exiguus eggs can be safely stored for up to 5 days at 10℃ and 10 days at 15℃ and incubation period could be staggered for up to 10 and 13 days,respectively.The longevity of the C.exiguus adults was significantly reduced due to low temperature storage.However,for adult females,a storage temperature of 15℃ for 15 days could be recommended as they could live for a more than a month after removal from storage and their progeny production was comparable to that of the control adults.

Preferential feeding of an anthocorid predator Blaptostethus pallescens Poppius on different stages of cotton mealybug

Blaptostethus pallescens Poppius (Heteroptera:Anthocoridae),which is amenable to mass rearing,has proved to be a potential predator of sucking pests like mites and thrips.Recently,the cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley emerged as a serious pest on cotton in India.Laboratory studies indicated that B.pallescens could feed on the cotton mealybug.Hence,further investigations were conducted to understand the stage of the predator which is most potential and the pest stage preferred by the predator.Mature nymphs and adults of B.pallescens could predate equally well on the neonates of cotton mealybug.Young (three to four-day-old) nymphs of the predator could not feed on any stage of the cotton mealybug.Mature nymphs (seven-day-old and above) and adults could effectively predate on both young and mature cotton mealybug crawlers,though preference was more for the younger crawlers.However,nymphs and adults of B.pallescens could not predate on the adult stage of the mealybug.Different predator:pest ratios were tested in cage studies and it emerged that B.pallescens adults released against the mealybug crawlers at a ratio of 1:5 and nymphal release at 1:10 caused maximum mortality of the mealybug crawlers.Considering the fast multiplication rate of cotton mealybug and the large number of predators which have to be released to manage them,further detailed studies are necessary on utilizing B.pallescens to target the neonates and younger stages of the cotton mealybug in field conditions.