Role of Blaptostethus pallescens Poppius and Xylocoris flavipes (Reuter) in the Suppression of Corcyra cephalonica Stainton in Stored Rice Grain

Abstract

The predatory performance of anthocorid bugs, Blaptostethus pallescens Poppius and Xylocoris flavipes (Reuter) was evaluated against stored rice grain moth, Corcyra cephalonica Stainton. Both the predators significantly suppressed the infestation of C. cephalonica in stored rice grain. However, X. flavipes performed better than B. pallescens which was attributed to their small size enabling them to adapt to store rice grain. The higher doses of X. flavipes @ 30 nymphs/100 eggs/jar (11.9 moths/jar) and 20 nymphs/100 eggs/jar (15.5 moths/jar) were found to be most effective in suppressing the population build-up of C. cephalonica in stored rice grain. X. flavipes with respect to nymphal survival was found to be most suitable as higher number of their living nymphs (13.4 to 24.4 nymphs/jar) was recovered as compared to B. pallescens, where, negligible number of living nymphs (0–0.2 nymphs/jar) was recovered. It was concluded that X. flavipes @ 30 nymphs/jar, followed by X. flavipes @ 20 nymphs/jar was most effective in controlling C. cephalonica in stored rice grain.