Exploitation of Micromus igorotus Banks Neuroptera Hemerobiidae in the management of sugarcane woolly aphid Ceratovacuna lanigera Zehntner

Abstract

Investigations on Exploitation of Micromus igorotus Banks in the management of newlinesugarcane woolly aphid (SWA), Ceratovacuna lanigera Zehntner was carried out from 2003 newline 2006 at the main campus of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad and farmers newlinefields i) to study the bio-ecology, host range and feeding potential, ii) develop mass rearing newlinetechniques, iii) have insight into the field biology, iv) understand interaction between potential newlinepredators of SWA, v) study safety of different insecticides, entomopathogens and botanicals newlineto the predator. newlineDevelopmental period of life stages of M. igorotus on SWA was least during January newline March followed by June August and October December. Adult longevity and fecundity newlinewas high during October - December (45.02 days and 774.44 eggs) and low during January newlineMarch (25.90 days and 427.10 eggs). Larval and adult feeding was significantly low during newlineJanuary March (606.12) and high during June August (849.44). newlineFrom field biology studies, geometric build up of egg and pupal population was more newlineduring June August followed by October December and least during January March newlineperiod. newlineIn nature, abandoned spider webbing served as ovipositional sites. Pupation is inside newlineleaf sheath of older and dried leaves at the bottom. newlineMicromus igorotus accepted 10 aphid species and a psyllid as host. Aphis craccivora newlineKoch outperformed by permitting development of egg, larva, pupa in shortest period. newlineReproductive potential of predators reared on Aphis gossypii Glover. was highest newlineOn consideration of biological traits and uninterrupted availability of aphid species newlinethroughout the year, C. lanigera, proved to be the ideal insectary host for production of newlinepredator. Cotton thread string in plastic container along with SWA as food proved to be the newlinebest substrate for higher egg harvest. Plastic container of 18.75 x 9.00 or 25.00 x 11.25 cm newlinewith 25-pairs/container was found to be ideal for adult rearing and plastic box with ventilated newlinelid of 10 x 25 cm (III) with 100 larvae/container