Feeding performance of Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley under laboratory conditions

This study aims to determine the feeding performance of grubs and adults of Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius) on the cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley. The experiments were conducted in the laboratory at 25.0±1.0°C temperature, 65±5% R.H., and a 14L:10D photoperiod with ten replicates under unstarved and starved conditions. When unstarved, the first instar grub, second instar grub, third instar grub, fourth instar grub, adult male, and adult female ingested at an average of 8.5±0.26, 12.6±0.33, 19.1±0.48, 38.2±0.60, 28.0±0.29, and 33.4±0.74 mealybugs/insect/day, respectively. When exposed to starvation for 2 hours prior to the experiment, the mean consumption of the first instar grub, second instar grub, third instar grub, fourth instar grub, adult male, and adult female was recorded to be 9.2±0.09, 13.3±0.31, 20.1±0.42, 40.5±0.34, 30.0±0.50, and 34.3±0.25 mealybugs/insect/day, respectively. The study subsequently revealed that the fourth instar grub of B. suturalis is a voracious feeder of cotton mealybug, exhibiting the highest feeding potential among all the developmental stages. An adult female indicated higher feeding performance over the adult male. The starved grubs and adults consumed a higher number of mealybugs than unstarved or well-fed grubs and adults of B. suturalis .