Department of Agricultural Entomology, Centre for Plant Protection Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, (India).
1Present Address: National Research Centre for Cashew, Shanthigodu, Puttur, (D.K.)-574 202, Karnataka, (India).
The known mass culture technique for Helopeltis antonii Signoret was based on cashew seedlings and tender cashew shoots. Their seasonal availability posed problems. Also, the longevity and fecundity of H. antonii was low. These were substituted by seedlings and tender shoots of cotton accession No. CBE-244 (Gossypium barbedernse) and tender marble size bolls of G. hirsutum (Accession No. CICR-4) to improve its mass culture technique. Further, in place of aluminium nymphal rearing cage, commonly available plastic waste paper bin (25×21 cm) was used. The modified method showed that 71.1 to 97.3 per cent nymphs reached adult stage and the fecundity was 128.1 eggs/female. Single mating was sufficient to lay full compliment of fertile eggs. For highest hatchability of viable eggs, the egg laden shoots of any host plant need to be maintained in the turgid condition.
