Biology, Behaviour and predatory efficiency of Sycanus galbanus Distant. Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae recorded in Cashew plantations

Abstract

Reduviids are one of the important predatory groups encountered in cashew plantations, which predate on several insect pests including Helopeltis spp. Sycanus galbanus Dist. (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) was observed to be frequently predating on H. antonii. S. galbanus was collected from cashew plantations and reared under laboratory conditions on the larvae of greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella L. S. galbanus laid 80-110 eggs in clusters. The incubation period was 17.00±0.28 days. The stadial durations of I, II, III, IV and V nymphs were 9.24±0.18, 7.72±0.22, 8.32± 0.17, 10.40±0.21 and 16.04±0.19 days, respectively. Adult males and females survived for 74.00±1.29 and 81.10±1.06 days, respectively and the sex ratio was 1: 0.93. Many desirable biological and behavioral traits noticed in S. galbanus imply that this species can be mass reared under laboratory conditions and included in integrated pest management in cashew.