Abstract
Biological control potential of insect hosts as well as artificial diet reared Rhynocoris marginatus (Fab.) (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) life stages on Dysdercus cingulatus (Fab.), Spodoptera litura (Fab.) and Corcyra cephalonica Stainton in terms of approaching time, handling time, and predatory rate (weight gain and number of prey consumed) were evaluated under laboratory conditions. Results revealed that the particular stage of the predator preferred the desired stage of the pests studied. Moreover, younger reduviid preferred younger prey and vice versa. The biological control potential of the reduviid showed that, irrespective of the preys offered, females consumed greater numbers of prey than the males. Among the three prey tested, S. litura was the most preferred prey followed by D. cingulatus and C. cephalonica. Both the handling time and weight gain differed among the life stages of the reduviid reared with an artificial diet and insect prey.
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