Comparative Biology of M. boninensis on Different Natural Hosts i.e. Mango Hoppers And Mealy Bugs.

A laboratory experiment was conducted during September 2009 to December 2009 to study the biology of Mallada boninensis (Okamoto) on Mango hoppers at Bio-control laboratory Department of Agril. Entomology, College of Agriculture, Dapoli (MS). The culture of Malliada boninensis (Okamato) mango hoppers multiplied in the laboratory during the investigation. The results of the present investigation revealed that, M.boninensis found free dominant throughout the Mango growing area of Konkan region. The developmental period of all instars on different prey species was in the order of Mango hoppers and mealy bugs. The larval period of M.boninensis when fed mango hoppers and mealy bugs. The breadth and length varied in different instars of M.boninensis when reared on different host insects. The maximum pupal period of M.boninensis 10.13 ± 0.52 days when larva fed with mango hoppers nymphs, 9.48 ± 0.62 days when larva fed with mealy bugs. The pupal weight was 9.06 ± 0.67 mg. and 8.18 ± 0.53 mg. when larva reared on mealy bugs and mango hoppers respectively. The adult female longetively was recorded as 27.29 days and 30.47 days while male survived for 27.50 and 26.00 days respectively when larva was mango hoppers and mealy bugs. In respective prey species adult female survived longer than male. The average pre oviposition period of M.boninensis after feeding on mealy bugs and Mango hoppers was 10.96 ± 1.51 and 10.98 ± 1.58 days respectively, while the average oviposition period was 15.08 ± 2.71 and 15.69 ± 2.76 days, respectively. The average post oviposiotion period was recorded as 1.65 ± 1.60 and 4.79 ± 3.32 days when reared on mealy bugs and mango hoppers. The sex ratio (M/F) of adults was 1: 1.38 and 1: 2.08 respectively on Mango hoppers and mealy bugs. the fecundity of M.boninensis was also influenced due to food variation at larval stage besides age.