Abstract
Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the prey consumption and functional response of the aphidophagous hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus DeGeer (Diptera: Syrphidae) to different densities of fourth instar rose aphids, Macrosiphum rosae (Homoptera: Aphididae), reared on Rosa alba L. (Rosaceae) at 20 oC, 27 oC and 35 oC. The third instar of E.balteatus consumed a maximum of 51.3±0.53 M. rosae aphids at 27 oC, followed by the third instar with 46.5±0.53 aphid predation at 20 oC. The lowest handling time (Th) was noted for the third instar larvae of E. balteatus (0.407± 0.012) at 27 oC, and the maximum handling time (Th) of (0.662 ± 0.024) was noted for 2nd larvae of E. balteatus at 35 oC. The highest attack rate was noted for 3rd instar larvae (0.201± 0.014) at 27 oC, while the lowest attack rate was noted for second instar at 35 oC. Both instars of Episyrphus balteatus exhibited type II functional response at all three temperatures.
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