Biological Studies on Coccinellid Predator, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Muls. of Grapevine Mealy Bug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green

The coccinellid predator, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Muls. of grapevine mealy bug , Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green was studied in the present investigation in the laboratory conditions (temp. 250C to 310C with 65% to 72% R.H.) at Department of Agricultural Entomology, MAU, Parbhani (MS). The Australian coccinellid, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Muls. has been established very well because of its role in biological suppression of mealy bugs (Mani and Krishnamurthy,1997). but very little work was carried out on this predator in Maharashtra. Hence, an attempt has been made in the present investigation to study the life history of the Cryptolaemus on grapevine mealy bug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green and to know its feeding potentiality. The incubation period of C. montrouzieri was 3 to 7 days. The duration of the first, second, third and fourth instars grub were 4 to 7, 3 to 5, 5 to 10 and 7 to 11 days. Prepupal and pupal periods ranged from 2 to 3 and 6 to 10 days. The males lived for 69.7 days and females for 74.7 days. The oviposition period lasted for 54 to 83 days. The females laid 476.2 eggs. While sex ratio was 1:1 The predation rate of C. montrouzieri on the biostages of M. hirsutus were in the order of eggs > nymphs > adults. It can also be concluded that female consumed more biostages during their life span than the males in the present studies.