Biological attributes and feeding potential of three dominant predators of Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach)

Abstract

Basic biological attributes and feeding potential of three major predators viz., the seven spotted lady bird beetle Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus and two syrphids Episyrphus viridaureus (Wiedemann) and Betasyrphus isaaci (Bhatia), of mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi were studied under laboratory conditions. The predators were multiplied on mustard aphids reared on mustard plants.C. septempunctata, E. viridaureus and B. isaaci completed their life cycle in 68.5± 6.5 days, 47±2 and 41±2, respectively. Coccinella septumpunctata completed the larval growth with four larval instars, while both the syrphids terminated the larval growth with three instars. Final instars of all the three predators were found to have highest predatory potential than the younger instars. C. septumpunctata was found to be the most dominant predator of mustard aphid with average lifetime consumption of 4312±537.74 aphids, followed by E. viridaureus (416.67±6.76 aphids) and B. isaaci (338±7.89 aphids). All the three predators have the potential to reduce the mustard aphids; however, C. septumpunctata has a maximum predatory potential with a longer life, which makes this species as an excellent bioagent of L. erysimi and further research on their utilization on a large scale should be undertaken.

Larval feeding capacity and pollination efficiency of the aphidophagous syrphids, Eupeodes frequens (Matsmura) and Episyrphus balteatus (De Geer) (Diptera: Syrphidae) on the cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) (Homoptera: Aphididae) on mustard crop

“…The overall studies thus revealed that egg laying capacity of both the species increased when the females were fed on 10% honey solution and fresh pollen grains. These findings agree with Manpoong et al (2016) who reported that female of E. viridaureus laid on an average 45.4 eggs and of Betasyrphus isaaci laid an average 31.2 eggs throughout its life span when fed on 50% honey solution. The observations of the present investigation are supported by the findings of Hong and Hung (2010) who reported that rearing temperature and food type may affect some biological characters, e.g., longevity and egg laying capacity of syrphids.…”

Feeding efficiency of Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus and Propylea luteopustulata (Mulsant) against Mustard aphid Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach)

“…Mustard aphid Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach, 1843) is one of the most destructive insect pests of cruciferous crops such as mustard and radish (Manpoong et al 2017) causing a great loss (upto 97.6 percent) of mustard yield (Patel et al 2004;Kumar et al 2022). It feeds on plant sap affecting natural development and also acts as vector to transmit variety of plant viruses.…”

Ovipositional/Numerical response of aphidophagous syrphids (Diptera:Syrphidae) at varying prey densities of Lipaphis erysimi and Brevicoryne brassicae (Homoptera:Aphididae)

“…Among the different insect predators of aphids, present investigation focused on the ovipositioning behaviour of predatory syrphids. Predatory syrphids are well known but underestimated generalized predator of aphids and maggots of these predatory syrphids reported feeding on more than 100 species of aphids (Singh et al2020;Jalilian 2015;Manpoong et al 2016). Syrphids are least explored and very less studies have been done on the ovipositioning behaviour of predatory syrphidss (Mizuno et al 1997).…”