PREDATION POTENTIAL OF COCCINELLID, CHILOCORUS-BIJUGUS MULSANT ON THESAN-JOSE SCALE, QUADRASPIDIOTUS-PERNICIOSUS (COMSTOCK) AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURE REGIMES

The predation potential of various larval instars and adult of Chiloco rus bijugus Mulsant was studied on crawlers as well as mature scales ( 10-20 days old) at three temperature regimes viz. 22,27 and 32-degrees -C (+/-1-degrees-C) and 65+/-5% relative humidity. The first instar gr ub preferred to feed on crawlers whereas, second instar grub initially favoured crawlers but later may also devoured 1-2 mature scales of Qu adraspidiotus perniciosus (Comstock) per day. The third and fourth ins tar grubs and adults are voracious feeders of crawlers and adults of t he scale. The most favourable temperature for predation by C. bijuqus was 27+/-1-degrees-C since the maximum number of prey predatored upon at this temperature under laboratory conditions.