Journal of Entomological Research
SCOPUSWeb of Science
  • Year: 2009
  • Volume: 33
  • Issue: 3

A study on the biocontrol potential of Euagoras plagiatus Burmeister (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) on caterpillars of Pterophorus lienigianus Z., a pest of Solanum melongena Linn. in relation to prey density

  • Author:
  • S. Chandral1, Retna Latha Sinazer1, Shirley Daniel, S. Prasanna Kumar
  • Total Page Count: 6
  • Page Number: 203 to 208

Department of Zoology and Research Centre, Scott Christian College (Autonomous), Nagercoil - 629 003, Tamil Nadu, India.

1 Department of Advanced Zoology and Biotechnology, Women's Christian College, Nagercoil - 629 001, T. N.

Abstract

The study on the functional response of E. plagiatus in relation to caterpillars of P. lienigianus which infest S. melongena suggested that the predator was capable of suppressing the increasing pest population by killing more number of pest. E. plagiatus responded to the increasing density of pest by killing more prey than at lower densities. This was further confirmed by the positive correlation obtained between the prey density and prey killed. A negative correlation was obtained between prey density and searching time of predator at all prey densities.