Host Range, Feeding Potential and Biological Attributes of Micromus igorotus Banks, a Predator of Sugarcane Woolly Aphid, Ceratovacuna lanigera Zehntner

Abstract

Studies on host range of Micromus igorotus Banks, a predator of Ceratovacuna lanigera Zehntner indicated that the pupation was higher when aphids belonging to subfamily Hormaphidinae were used as food. Within subfamily Aphidinae, tribe Aphidini was preferred to Macrosiphini. Irrespective of instars of aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch was fed in significantly higher numbers than C. lanigera. Total feeding potential was also significantly higher on A. craccivora of adults. Feeding potential was significantly higher on Aphis gossypii Glover and lower on Pseudoregma bambusicola (Takahashi) and C. lanigera. Pre-oviposition period was significantly longer when adults were reared on A. gossypii. The predator laid maximum eggs when fed with P. bambusicola while least eggs were laid when C. lanigera was provided as prey. Egg and larval periods did not differ significantly on different aphid species, however, pupal period was significantly longer on A. craccivora and A. gossypii and shortest on C. lanigera. This study also provides authentic characters for sex determination of adults of M. igorotus