Biology and Predatory Potential of a Reduviid Predator, Oncocephalus annulipes Stal. (Hemiptera:Reduviidae)

The biology and predatory potential of Oncocephalus annulipes Stal., an alate, entomophagous, multivoltine assassin bug predating on several insect pests was studied in the laboratory. The insect laid pale luteous, oval eggs with creamy white concave operculum without any cementing material 14 days after emergence. The eggs hatched in 7 to 24 days and the pale ochraccious nymphs acquired dark grey colour with annulations in appendages within 1 h. Total stadial period from I instar to adult ranged from 40 to 15 days. Males and females lived 52 and 36.5 days respectively. The sex ratio was slightly female biased. The insect preyed upon larvae of IIeliothis armigera (IIbn.), Spodoptera litura F. and Earias spp.