Taxonomic studies of predacious coccinellid species on pulses in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

‘‘Taxonomic studies of predacious coccinellid species on pulses in Guntur district’’ were conducted at the Department of Entomology, Agricultural College, Bapatla during 2015-16. The survey was conducted in ten major pulses cultivating mandals of Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh and collected coccinellid beetles from greengram, blackgram, redgram and cowpea fields. About 999 ladybird beetles were collected and described, identification was conducted on the basis of morphological characters and genetalia. Six species were identified in three sub families and three tribes of family Coccinellidae of Guntur region, A.P. Among these coccinellid beetles, four species, Cheilomenes sexmaculata, Coccinella transversalis, Harmonia octomaculata and Micraspis discolor belonged to subfamily Coccinellinae and tribe Coccinellini, Scymnus (pullus) coccivora Ayyar in subfamily Scymninae and tribe Scymnini, Brumoides suturalis belonged to subfamily Chilocorinae and tribe Chilocorini of family Coccinellidae were identified.