Aquatic Entomology and Biocontrol Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Loyola College, Chennai - 600 034, Tamil Nadu, India.
Adult Diplonychus rusticus (Fabricius) and Ranatra filiformis (Fabricius) were exposed to different densities of mosquito larvae in different combination of predator's sex. The predatory performance increased in relation to prey density and predatory rate. Initially, it was high but declined thereafter at different hours of the day. Maximum predation was noted in the combination of female, Diplonychus rusticus and female, Ranatra filiformis at prey density of 200.
