HANSA JAT, R. SWAMINATHAN AND O.P.AMETA

Flowers of common food plants of the blister beetle (Mylabris pustulata Thunberg) cowpea, blackgram, greengram, pigeonpea, okra and China-rose were evaluated for their preference as food by the beetle under the choice and no-choice tests in caged conditions in the laboratory of Department of Entomology, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur. The food preference studies indicated that female blister beetles preferred to feed China rose (207.00 to 209.50 mg/day); while the males preferred the mixed food comprising flowers of 6 plants (96.50 to 99.75 mg/day). Blackgram was least preferred (27.75 to 29.75 mg/day) both by males and females.