Abstract
Helopeltis spp. (Hemiptera: Miridae) are major sucking pests of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) in India. Cydnocoris gilvus Brum. (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) is recorded as a potential predator of Helopeltis spp. Biology, mating behaviour and functional response of C. gilvus were studied by rearing in the laboratory (temperature 26-28 0C; relative humidity 89-94 %) with wax moth, Galleria mellonella, larvae. Based on laboratory rearing, the fecundity was 56.33 eggs in 8.67 batches per female. The average stadial period was 37.3 days, with a maximum of 11 days for V instar and a minimum of 4.5 days for III instars. C. gilvus took 45.5 days to complete a generation. The innate capacity of natural increase was 0.07 with a gross reproduction of 67.8 females per female. The adult exhibited a pin and jab mode of predation in a sequence of actions. The sequential action of mating comprised arousal (1.32 min), approach (12.30 min), riding over (140.48 min) and copulation (85.40 min). The predator responded to increasing prey density by killing more prey than at lower prey densities
Highlights
Helopeltis spp. (Hemiptera: Miridae) are major sucking pests of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) in India
Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is a native of Brazil, and it was introduced into the western coast of India by Portuguese travelers during the 16th century
C. gilvus were collected from cashew plantations of Directorate of Cashew Research (DCR), Puttur (12.450N & 75.40E; elevation 90m) in Karnataka State, southern India
Summary
Helopeltis spp. (Hemiptera: Miridae) are major sucking pests of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) in India. (Hemiptera: Miridae) are major sucking pests of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) in India. (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) is recorded as a potential predator of Helopeltis spp. Biology, mating behaviour and functional response of C. gilvus were studied by rearing in the laboratory (temperature 26–28 0C; relative humidity 89–94 %) with wax moth, Galleria mellonella, larvae. Infestation by insects has been identified as a major factor responsible for low productivity in cashew (Sundararaju 1993). The main insect affecting cashew is the Tea Mosquito Bug (TMB), Helopeltis antonii Signoret (Hemiptera: Miridae). Both nymphs and adults damage tender shoots, inflorescence, immature nuts and apples at various stages of development, resulting in a yield loss of 30–50% (Devasahayam & Nair 1986)
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