Department of Agricultural Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad - 580 005, Karnataka, India.
*Corresponding author's: E-mail: vidya_mulimani@yahoo.com
Biology of Micromus igorotus Banks was studied during January – March, June – August and October – December on sugar cane woolly aphid (SWA), Ceratovacuna lanigera Zehntner in the Biocontrol laboratory, UAS Dharwad. Developmental periods during January – March (16.04 ± 0.84 days) and June – August (17.48 ± 0.96 days), being at par, were significantly shorter than in October – December (20.76 ± 1.09 days). Significantly highest oviposition period of 43.92 ± 4.70 days was recorded during October – December, during which time adult deposited significantly highest number of eggs (774.44 ± 189.31) followed by June-August rearing with 32.12 ± 10.39 days of oviposition period and fecundity of 602.06 ± 136.62. Significantly lowest oviposition period and fecundity registered during January – March. Adults of M. igorotus lived longer during October – December (45.02 ± 3.47) and shortest during January – March (25.90 ± 3.03). The feeding capacity of larva + adult was significantly highest during June-August (849.44 ± 91.42), intermediate in October – December (791.28 ± 62.67) and lowest in January – March (606.12 ± 51.08).
