Biology and feeding efficacy of the anthocorid, Blaptostethus pallescens Poppius on Oligonychus coffeae in tea

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The anthocorid predator, Blaptostethus pallescens Poppius was studied for the first time on red spider mite (RSM), Oligonychus coffeae Nieter. Laboratory studies indicated that B. pallescens can be successfully reared on RSM. Incubation period was 4.4 ± 0.34 days. The total developmental period of five nymphal instars to adults was 17.1 ± 0.34 days. Blaptostethus pallescens nymphs consumed RSM in the range of 3.83 ± 0.18 to 17.37±0.95/day. Female B. Pallescens consumed more mites than male. The study clearly showed B. pallescens is a promising candidate in tea plantations for the control of red spider mite.

Morphology and performance specifications of Blaptosthethus pallescens Poppius (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) when reared on two alternate laboratory hosts

“…Duration of first to fifth nymphal instars was observed to be 3.6 ± 0.62, 2.2 ± 0.20, 2.2 ± 0.37, 2.4 ± 0.40 and 6.0 ± 0.55 days, respectively (Table 3). First and fifth nymphal instars were recorded to be a longer nymphal duration which has also been reported by Sobhy et al (2014) and Kodakkadan Srikumar et al, (2017). No significant difference was observed in total developmental time of female and male when reared on C. cephalonica and S. cerealella eggs (Table 2). Female survived for a longer duration than male in both the treatments.…”

“…Beans pods can be used successfully as ovipositional substrate for rearing B. pallescens (Ballal et al, 2003b;Sobhy et al, 2014). Kodakkadan Srikumar et al (2017) reported that B. pallescens laid eggs on tea shoots. The average length, breadth of egg and diameter of operculum of B. pallescens egg are 0.82 ± 0.02 mm, 0.38 ± 0.00 mm and 0.25 ± 0.25 mm, respectively (Table 1).…”

“…Tawfik and Husseini (1971),Ballal et al (2003b),Sobhy et al (2014) andKodakkadan Srikumar et al (2017) also reported five nymphal instars in B. pallescens Muraleedharan and Ananthakrishnan (1978). reported five nymphal instars in anthocorid species like C. indicus, Montandoniolamoraguesi (Puton), Xylocoris clarus (Distant) and Scoloposcelis paralellus (Motschulsky).…”