Decline in Population of Coccinellid Predators of Safflower Aphid at Jabalpur

The adult population of the coccinellid prepators, Coccinella septempunctata Linn. Menochilus sexmaculata (Fabr.), Brumus suturalis Fabr. and Scymnus nubilus (Muls.) of saf-flower aphid, Uroleucon compositae (Theob), declined from 10.00–27.00 during 1975–76 to 1977–78 to 0.39–1.63 during 1978–79 to 1980–81 (per 10 safflower plants), and have now become apparently ineffective in natural regulation of the pest, at Jabalpur (M. P.), Incorrect use of pesticides and also the eradication of weeds such as Calotropis (which harbour alternative aphid preys of predators) may be causing such decline in the coccinellid population. Suggestions for conserving them are also made.