First record of Antilochus coqueberti (Fabricius) (Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae) as a predator of Dysdercus koenigii (Fabricius) in Gujarat, India

Abstract

The red cotton bug (Dysdercus koenigii) significantly threatens cotton cultivation. Traditional insecticidal approaches to manage D. koenigii are often ineffective due to the insect's high mobility and its ability to survive on alternate host plants. In this study, we provide the first report of the predatory potential of Antilochus coquebertii (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae) against D. koenigii in Anand, Gujarat, India. Field observations at Anand Agricultural University in October 2024 documented natural predation by A. coquebertii, indicating its promise as a potential biocontrol agent. Morphological assessment distinguished A. coquebertii from ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, for her assistance in identification of species, while molecular identification confirmed the predator’s identity, showing 98% sequence similarity with cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene sequences PV567543in the NCBI GenBank database.