Biology and Feeding Potential of Cheilomenus sexmaculata (Fab.) on Bean Aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch) and Mustard Aphid (Liphaphis erysimi L.)

An experiment “biology and feeding potential of Cheilomenus sexmaculata on bean aphid(Aphis craccivora Koch) and mustard aphid (Liphaphis erysimi L.)” was carried out at Biocontrol Laboratory, S.V.P.U.A. & T., Meerut (U.P.) India. The ladybird beetle C. sexmaculata completed their life cycle in 18–27 days. C. sexmaculata laid eggs ranged 150–210 eggs during her life period. The 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th instar larval period lasted for 2.67±0.33 days (ranged 2–3 days), 2.00±0.58 (ranged 1–3 days), 2.67±0.33 (ranged 2–3 days) and 4.00±0.58 (ranged 3–5 days), respectively. Fourth and final instar grubs were deep black in colour, when freshly moulted but changed to dull black in colour before prepupation. The pre-pupal period was lost in 2.67±0.33 (ranged 23 days) while the pupal period was lost in 4.67±0.33 (ranged 4–5 days). Male and female beetles survived for 29–33 and 33–38 days with a mean survival period of 30.67±0.88 and 35.33±1.45 days, respectively. The total number of aphid consumed during whole larval duration of C. sexmaculata varied from 70–95 Aphis craccivora and 63–85 Lipaphys erysimi, respectively. A male beetle consumed 510.33±9.82 A. craccivora (ranged 500–521 aphids) and 410.33±4.26 L. erysimi (ranged 400–416 aphids), with an average of 28.72 A. craccivora and 32.92 L. erysimi per day, respectively. While, a female beetle consumed 718.00±17.21 A. craccivora (ranged 710–725 aphids) and 555.67±27.63 L. erysimi (ranged 547–571 aphids), respectively with an average of 35.93 A. craccivora and 27.90 L. erysimi perday, respectively.