Journal of Entomological Research
Year : 1990, Volume : 14, Issue : 1
First page : ( 39) Last page : ( 43)
Print ISSN : 0378-9519.

Host preference of Epilachna ocellata Redt. (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera) among different vegetable crops

Lal O.P.

Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Regional Station, Katrain, Kulu Valley, Himachal Pradesh (India).

Accepted:  9  March,  1990.

Abstract

The host plant preference of Epilachna ocellata Redt was studied under field conditions. The beetles showed a wide range of host plants in Kulu Valley. The order of preference of beetles in the descending order was: potato, tomato, brinjal, okra, cucumber, radish, capsicum, French bean, green gram and black gram. The adults always prefer the host plantson which they live as larvae. The adult females,though fed on various hosts, deposited the eggs on most preferred host plants. Potato, tomato and brinjal harboured maximum beetles. Some of the heavily infested potato plants harboured 25–30 larvae on a single plant, whereas brinjal and tomato revealed maximum of 15–20 larvae per plant. The population of beetles was always higher than larvae. Radish, capsicum, green gram and black gram harboured many beetles but were least preferred by the larvae.

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