Abstract
The reduviid predator, Rhynocoris fuscipes (Fabricius) (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) is a potential predator inhibiting diverse agroecosystems and preying upon about 50 minor as well as major insect pests. The prey approaching behaviour of R. fuscipes (Fabricius) to the hexane extracts of insect pests viz., Helicoverpa armigera Hubner, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius), Achaea janata Linnaeus, Dysdercus cingulatus Fabricius and Mylabris indica Thunberg was assessed in Y-shaped olfactometer in terms of Excess Proportion Index (EPI). Ether in hexane fraction extracts of S. litura stimulated higher rostral protruding activity (6.53 +/- 1.56 min) than that of H. armigera (4.61 +/- 1.29 min) followed by A. janata (3.17 +/- 1.11) and D. cingulatus (2.95 +/- 1.12 min). The lowest response was observed to the hexane extract of M. indica (1.30 +/- 0.63 min).The order of excitement in behavioral response of R. fuscipes to the tested body extract of five insect pests was ranked as follows: S. litura > H. armigera > A. janata > D. cingulatus > M. indica. Thus the present study clearly reveals the host preference of R. fuscipes to the taxonomically diverse insect pests.
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