Feeding potential of ladybird beetle, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius) on different species of aphids
Author(s): Singh NA, Dabhi MR, Rojasara YM and Varma CB
Abstract: A study was carried out to explore the feeding capabilities of the zig-zag beetle, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius), a commonly found species of ladybird beetle, at Department of Agricultural Entomology, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand (Gujarat) during the year 2019-20. The feeding potential of the predator was calculated on four hosts i.e., mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach), cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii (Glover), maize aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) and cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora (Koch). Results revealed that highest number of aphids consumed by first instar was A. craccivora (20.13 ± 0.61), second instar of ladybird beetle preferred R. maidis (35.27±0.49), while during the third and fourth instar stage larvae exhibited a higher preference for feeding on A. gossypii, consuming 57.87 ± 47 and 79.60 ± 1.99. The total consumption of grubs revealed that grubs of C. sexmaculata fed more on A. gossypii (191.20±4.17) closely followed by A. craccivora (177.10±5.48). The consumption capacity of C. sexmaculata adult indicated that A. craccivora (820.30±44.94) followed by A. gossypii (739.93±28.96). The least number of aphids eaten during grub and adult period was of L. erysimi (105.73±3.83 and 441.33±40.35). Throughout its entire lifespan, C. sexmaculata demonstrated a greater consumption rate on A. craccivora (997.40±45.60). Thus it was concluded that C. sexmaculata can control the A. craccivora and A. gossypii, effectively.
