HOST ACCEPTANCE BEHAVIOR OF A PREDATORY PENTATOMID, EOCANTHECONA-FURCELLATA (WOLFF) (HETEROPTERA, PENTATOMIDAE) TOWARDS LARVAE OF SPODOPTERA-LITURA (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE)

Factors stimulating host seeking behaviour of Eocanthecona furcellata (Wolff), a pentatomid predator, were investigated by using Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) as prey. Faeces of S. litura larvae el icited a host seeking response by the predators. The active material i s present in the prey mandibular gland secretions, digestive tract and body surface, which when placed on a filter paper evoked feeding atte mpts. Predators responded intensely towards the prey artificial diet t oo. Prey body washings with hexane and acetone also stimulated feeding behaviour. Physical stimuli such as host shape or movement had no inf luence on acceptability of the prey to the predator. Larval size corre lated with aggressive behaviour which limited predation rather than re leasing stimulus for the host acceptance behaviour. Pharate instar sta ge of the prey was never accepted by E. furcellata. But pupa., egg and adult stages of S. litura stimulated predators to certain extent. Nei ther extirpation of antennae nor blinding the vision prevented the bug s from locating the prey. However, excision of rostral tip decreased t he prey capture efficiency. It is suggested that the rostral tip conta ins chemotactile sensillae which are responsible for the prey detectio n.