Biology, Feeding Potential, Standardization of Mass Production Techniques and Impact Study of Dipha Aphidivora Meyrick

Experiments were conducted on the biology, feeding potential and standardization of the mass production of Dipha aphidivora Meyrick predator on sugarcane woolly aphid, Ceratovacuna lanigera Zehntner during 2005-2007, at Agricultural Research Station (ARS), Honnavile, Shimoga (district), Karnataka, India. The duration of the first instar was 2.5 to 3.5 days (average 2.95+0.90 days). The average duration of second, third, fourth and fifth instar, pupal period, adult female and male moth lasted for 4.57+1.33, 8.30+1.11, 11.37+2.96 and 6.10+0.77 days, 8.50+2.15 days, 4.5+0.50 days, 1.5±0.30 days, respectively and the total larval period lasted for 24.5 to 39.5 days. The daily consumption rate by D. aphidivora was 30.8 aphids per day. D. aphidivora or aphid multiplied faster on 7-month-old crop than 5, 6 and 8 month old crop. At the rate of 50 number of D. aphidivora pupae release, highest populations of 4230 per shade net D. aphidivora were harvested. Highest populations of D. aphidivora were harvested when the shade nets were irrigated once in two days with the population of 4123 D. aphidivora per shade net than irrigated once in week with the population of 1490 D. aphidivora per shade net. During the experiment, average temperature was 280C and relative humidity was 78 per cent.