Abundance of boll worm, flower beetle, predators and field colonization by Rhynocoris kumarii (Het., Reduviidae) following mulching and shelter provisioning in cotton

Abstract

Field colonization of the assassin bug Rhynocoris kumarii Ambrose and Livingstone and biocontrol potential of predatory arthropods after mulching with sorghum trash and coconut leaflets and with shelter provisioning with pieces of clay pots and stones was studied in a cotton field experiment at the Agricultural College Farm, Killikulam, South India. Third and fourth nymphal instars of R. kumarii were released. There were fewer Helicoverpa armigera Hübner larvae in plots with mulched cotton trash than in control and other (mulched and shelter provisioned) plots. But mulching did not affect the number of adult Mylabris pustulata Thunberg. The flower and boll damage was significantly less in trash and leaflet mulch plots than in other shelter provisioned and control plots. The percentage of good quality cotton was also greater in mulch plots than in control plots. The yield of seed‐cotton was also significantly greater in plots with trash mulches and coconut leaflet mulches than in control plots.

Lethal and Sublethal Effects of Three Microbial Biocontrol Agents on Spodoptera litura and Its Natural Predator Rhynocoris kumarii

“…), Phenacoccus solenopsis (Tinsley), Aphis gossypii (Glover), Euproctis mollifera (Thunberg), and Anomis flava (Fabricius) [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. In India, among several reduviid species, Rhynocoris kumarii Ambrose and Livingstone has been reported to feed on economically important agricultural arthropod pests under controlled and field conditions [ 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. In cotton agroecosystems, augmentative releases of this predator have been recommended for the management of S. litura , H. armigera , and E. mollifera [ 37 , 40 ], whereas in okra, the reduviids have been found effective against H. armigera and A. flava [ 38 ].…”