Predatory Efficiency of Mallada astur (Banks), a Chrysopid Predator of Coconut Leafeating Caterpillar, Opisina arenosella Walker

Abstract

The chrysopid, Mallada astur (Banks), recorded for the first time as promising egg and early larval predator of O. arenosella in interior Karnataka was evaluated for its predatory efficiency. This predator is predominant on coconut and palmyrah palms of 30m height. Its short life cycle (24.5 days) on a combined diet of eggs and larvae of O. arenosella, high fecundity per female (mean=102.3 eggs), and its ability to thrive in the larval galleries of O. arenosella, strongly support its utilization as a biocontrol agent during peak period of infestation (September-February) in interior Karnataka. Net house studies revealed that release of one M. astur larva (4 day old) per severely infested leaflet with about 35·50 neonate larvae will effectively reduced the population of the pest within a week.