Predatory potential of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mulsant) on Maconellicoccus hirsutus (green) at different temperature levels

A study was conducted to observe the predatory potential of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mulsant) on third instar nymph of Maconellicoccus hirsutus (green) at different temperature levels viz., 20°c, 25°c, 30°c and 35°c. total number of third instar nymph of M. hirsutus consumed by I larval instar of C. montrouzieri was 15.03, 9.44, 9.23, and 7.88 at 20°c, 25°c, 30°c and 35°c temperature levels respectively. corresponding values for II, III and IV larval instars of C. montrouzieri at 20°c, 25°c, 30°c and 35°c temperature levels were 30.77, 17.06, 19.90 and 10.44, 55.17, 43.04, 34.80 and 21.20 and 69.13, 58.78, 53.59 and 33.42, respectively. total number of third instar nymph of M. hirsutus consumed by male and female beetle of C. montrouzieri at 20°c, 25°c, 30°c and 35°c temperature levels was 450.00 and 517.47, 393.78 and 490.90, 234.00 and 312.20 and 223.70 and 316.06, respectively. however, in both the cases, similar trend was observed on weight basis but inverse trend was observed when per day consumption was taken into account.