M. VIDYA, S. LINGAPPA, R.K. PATIL AND G.K. RAMGOVINDA

Biology and feeding potential of Micromus timidus Hagen was studied under laboratory conditions on Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner). The predator was observed to pass through three larval instarts. On an average first, second and third instars lasted for 2.00 ± 0.0, 1.06 ± 0.25 and 1.81 ± 0.40 days and consumed 49.81 ± 9.95, 57.69 ± 19.48 and 128.25 ±  28.85 aphids, respectively. The fecundity was recorded as 907.50 ± 342.15 eggs/female. The individual larvae consumed 235.75 ± 33.24 aphid nymphs to complete the larval duration (4.88 ± 0.50 days) and an adult consumed on an average 303.58 ± 101.98 aphid nymphs for a period of 29.05 ± 13.49. The per day consumption of aphids was 50.06 ± 4.85 and 10.45 ± 6.67 aphids by larva and adult, respectively.