FUNCTIONAL AND NUMERICAL RESPONSES OF THE REDUVIID PREDATOR, RHYNOCORIS-FUSCIPES F (HET, REDUVIIDAE) TO COTTON-LEAFWORM SPODOPTERA-LITURA F(LEP, NOCTUIDAE)

Rhynocoris fuscipes positively responded to the changing abundance of prey and exhibited Holling's second model of functional response. Incr eased searching capacity and decreased handling time were observed wit h the increasing prey density in R. fuscipes. The considerable number of prey consumed by the predator per day at higher prey density than a t lower density reflected the predator's biocontrol potential. Increas ing prey density did not significantly shorten the IV stadium of the p redator, whereas that of V stadium was significantly shortened. Predat ors' survival and longevity were not affected by the prey density. Low prey densities resulted in an increase in the preoviposition period. Fecundity and hatchability were increased as a function of prey densit y.