Bionomics of predatory butterfly, apefly (Spalgis epius) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) on mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in cocoa
Journal Title: Journal of Applied and Natural Science - Year 2018, Vol 10, Issue 4
Abstract
Apefly, Spalgis epius (Westwood) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) is a small aphytophagous butterfly and their larvae feeds on the insects of Pseudococcidae, Hemiptera. In the pre-sent study, development of immature stages and life cycle of this predatory butterfly was observed on mealybugs, Paracoccus marginatus (Williams and Granara de Willink) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in cocoa under the laboratory conditions. The morphometry results indicated that the diameter of the egg was 0.52 ± 0.06 mm and the they were col-lected and kept in the laboratory at 25-30°C and 40-80% Relative Humidity. The eggs were greenish blue in colour and disk shaped, sculptured and both the top and bottom compacted with micropylar despair in the top and hatched in 4.16 ± 0.29 days. It under-goes four larval instars and the total larval period lasts 13.1 ± 0.12 days. The upper sur-face of the larval body was fully developed with wax coating. The duration of the pre pupal stage was 3.00 ± 0.17 days. The mold on the hard dorsal side of the pupa resem-bled on the face of a monkey structure. The prepupal larva shrunk and turned toward dull black colour of the surface of body. The pupal period was recorded as 10.00 ± 0.04 days. The total duration from egg to adult emergence was noticed as 30.30 ± 0.33 days. In adults, the patch is bigger in females than that in the males. The knowledge of develop-ment and life cycle of S. epius on factitious/natural hosts on various crops is advanta-geous to develop and standardize the mass culturing techniques for exploration of this potential species for predation of mealybugs.
Authors and Affiliations
B. Kanagaraj, C. Kathirvelu
Keywords
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- EP ID EP420777
- DOI 10.31018/jans.v10i4.1813
- Views 82
- Downloads 0
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