BIOLOGY AND RELEASE OF EXOTIC PREDATOR CRYPTOLAEMUS MONTROUZIERI MULSANT ON MEALYBUG PHENACOCCUS SOLENOPSIS TINSLEY AT TANDOJAM

Biology of exotic predator, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Cocccinellidae) was studied on exotic mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in controlled laboratory conditions (28±2°C, 65±5 RH% and L: D, 8: 16 h) at IPM laboratory, Tandojam. In laboratory premating, pre-oviposition and oviposition of C. montrouzieri was 5.6±0.08, 9.9±0.19 and 76.4±1.30 days, respectively. The fecundity was 486.9±1.417 per female. The incubation period was 5.3±0.07 days. The oval, cylindrical, pale yellowish eggs were laid by females singly or in groups in ovisacs of the mealybug. After hatching from the eggs the larvae developed through four instars. Mean developmental period for the first instar was 5.9±0.15 days, and the larvae were smooth, pale grey, and gradually increased in size. Mean developmental periods for 2nd, 3rd and 4th instars were 5.0±0.16, 7.0±0.18 and 8.3±0.13 days, respectively, with a total larval development 26.2±0.61 days. The mean pre-pupal and pupal periods were 2.9±0.07 and 8.5±0.2 days, respectively. Total development period from egg to adult was 42.9±0.95 days. Mean longevities for male and female adults were 80.9±0.89 and 84.4±0.9 days, respectively. The copulation period for C. montrouzieri ranged from 5 to 48 minutes. The male mounted and dismounted over the female body and mated repeatedly throughout their life. The predator C. montrouzieri adults survival on different cotton mealybug densities in semi field conditions showed that 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 pairs lived for 1.86, 2.33, 3.20, 3.80 and 3.47 days, respectively. The mortality of C. montrouzieri was significantly positive correlation 98% with temperature.