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Searching Behaviour of Two Coccinellid Predators, Coccinella transversalis Fab. and Cheilomenes sexmaculatus Fab., on Egg Plant Infested with Aphis gossypii Glov.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

R. Veeravel  and
P. Baskaran
R. Veeravel*
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar-608 002, India
P. Baskaran
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar-608 002, India
*
Corresponding author: RV.
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Abstract

The searching behaviour of two coccinellid predators, Coccinella transversalis Fab. and Cheilomenes (Menochilus) sexmaculatus Fab. at different hunger levels and larval stage was studied on eggplant infested with Aphis gossypii Glov. Females of both predators required more prey to return to a state of complete satiation. As the period of starvation increased, more aphids were consumed by both the beetles, reaching a maximum at 24 h starvation. In first, second, third and fourth instars of both the predators, the searching time and the number of eggplant leaf veins visited increased with increasing hunger levels. A high positive correlation between searching time and hunger level of tested predators was obtained.

Résumé

Une étude sur le comportement lors de la recherche de proie des larves de deux coccinelles, Coccinella transversalis Fab. et Cheilomenes (Menochilus) sexmaculatus Fab., soumises à des niveaux différents de jeun, a été menée sur les aubergines infestées de puceron Aphis gossypii Glov. Les femelles des deux prédateurs requéraient plus de proie pour paru parvenir à satiété. Au fur et à mesure de la prolongation de la durée de jeun, les deux coléoptères consommaient plus de pucerons et le maximum de prédation était enregistré après 24 heures de leur maintien à jeun. Pour les deux espèces, les larves du premier, deuxième, troisième et quatrième stades de développement la durée de recherche de proie ainsi que le nombre de nervures foliares d'aubergine visitées croissait au fur et à mesure de l'augmentation de la durée de jeun. Une corrélation hautement positive entre le temps de recherche de proie et le niveau de jeun a été obtenue pour les prédateurs testés.

Keywords

Coccinella transversalisCheilomenes sexmaculatussearching behaviourhunger levelstarvationpredationfeedingeggplantAphis gossypiiCoccinella transversalisCheilomenes sexmaculatuscomportement de recherche de proieniveau de jeunalimentationaubergineAphis gossypii
Type
Research Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 17 , Issue 3-4 , December 1997 , pp. 363 - 368
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1997

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References

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