Predatory potential of Australian lady bird beetle Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant on papaya mealybug

Abstract

Predatory potential of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri on different stages of papaya mealybug was studied. The mean predatory potential of I, II, III and IV instar grub on Ovisac, I, II and III instar nymphs of mealybug was 1.40±0.12, 30.60±0.51, 20.53±0.98 and 13.46±1.15; 1.68±0.13, 43.52±0.41, 30.40±0.68 and 17.33±0.88; 1.90±0.14, 47.04±0.84, 31.56±0.51 and 20.45±0.84 and 1.91±0.15, 54.10±0.45, 38.20±0.58 and 26.32±1.13. Average consumption capacity of male and female on ovisac, I, II and III instar nymphs was 2.98±0.09, 57.81±0.24, 41.39±0.12 and 28.51±0.02 and 3.05±0.10, 58.19±0.26, 43.00±0.19 and 29.28±0.08, respectively.