Agricultural Science Digest
Year : 2000, Volume : 20, Issue : 2
First page : ( 118) Last page : ( 119)
Print ISSN : 0253-150X.

Activity of coccinellid predator and its hyperparasitoid in rabi sorghum ecosystem of Northern Karnataka

Balikai R.A.

University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Regional Research Station, Bijapur-586 101, India

Abstract

Studies on the abundance of coccinellid predator, Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus (grubs and adults) and the parasitization of their grubs and pupae by an eulophid hyperparasitoid, Tetrastichus coccinellae Kurz. were carried out during rabi 1989–90 and 1990–91 in the sorghum ecosystem of Northern Kamataka. The results revealed peak activity of the adults and grubs of predatory coccineUid between 2^nd and 3^rd standard week in January and declined there after. The activity of the hyperparasitoid varied across years with modest (9.2–10.0%) hyperparasitization of coccinellid grub during fourth week of December (52^od std wk.). The eulopid parasitoid, T. coccinellae remained quite active during first and second week of February (6^th and 7^th std.wk.). In 1990 and during fifth week of January (5^th std.wk.) In 1991 resulting in 100 and 37.6% parasitization of the grubs of C. septempunctata. More or less similar trend was exhibited by the hyperparasitiod in parasitizing pupae of the predatory beetles.

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