Life traits and predatory potential of Antilochus coqueberti (Fab.) (Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae) against Dysdercus koenigii Fab.

Abstract

The red cotton bug, Dysdercus koenigii Fab., and its specialized predator Antilochus coquebertii (Fab.), are among the most abundant insects in Asian cotton agro-ecosystems. To gauge the potential of using A. coquebertii to control D. koenigii in cotton, we tested the role of feeding on cotton leaves in development of the predator, prey stage preference and characterized the functional response of the predator to prey density under laboratory conditions. Antilochus coquebertii exhibited an active hunting strategy indicative of using both olfactory and visual orientation. Immature stages of the predator successfully developed and reproduced when offered D. koenigii or cotton leaves with D. koenigii. However, A. coquebertii nymphs failed to develop past the third instar when feeding on cotton leaves alone. The food regime did not significantly affect body size of the predator. Mated male and female adults live long when fed with D. koenigii. Total number of prey consumed by an adult predator during 15-days observation reveals not much deviation when offered D. koenigii or cotton leaves with D. koenigii. The adults of A. coquebertii killed a maximum of six D. koenigii adults per day, and were preying on D. koenigii populations in a density dependent manner (showed a type II functional response). We argue that A. coquebertii has considerable potential for the biological control of the red cotton bug D. koenigii.