PREDATORY BEHAVIOUR OF EOCANTHECONA FURCELLATA ((HEMIPTERA: PENTATOMIDAE) FEEDING ON LARVAE OF HYPOSIDRA TALACA (LEPIDOPTERA: GEOMETRIDAE), A MAJOR TEA PEST OF NORTH EAST INDIA

Abstract

 Eocanthecona furcellata (Wolff.) is an important predator for several pest associated with agriculture, especially lepidopteran pest. The predatory behaviour of this predator such as approach and attacking, paralyzing, sucking on the prey were recorded. The adult female could paralyzed a larvae 4.7±0.6 seconds and sucked the body sap within 95.3±5.0 seconds. First instar nymph of the stink bug preferred only second instar larvae of looper and group feeding was observed. The incubation period recorded as 7.6±1.1, duration of nymphal stages as 18.4±1.5, longevity of adult male and female were recorded as 30.0±1.9 and 32.8±0.8 respectively. Egg hatchible rate was 94.5% and 96.2% adult survival of E. furcellata were recorded, reared on Coeryra cephalonica. Moreover this study revealed that, in the absence of main host, C. cephalonica could be used as alternative host to mass rear E. furcellata.