A. MEENA, R. SWAMINATHAN, O.P. AMETA, H. K. JAIN AND B. M. MEENA

The predator prey relationship manifested by functional response of three dominant coccinellids was studied under ambient conditions of atmospheric temperature and relative humidity in the laboratory of Department of Entomology, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur during 2013. The three dominant coccinellids viz., C. septempunctata, I. cincta and Ch. sexmaculata showed a varied functional response while feeding on maize aphids. All the three coccinellid grubs and adult beetles consumed relatively more aphids at lower aphid densities (25, 50 and 75), significantly being the maximum at a prey density of 75. At higher aphid densities (100, 125 and 150) the consumption rates declined. The feeding behavior of coccinellids showed a sharp decline in percentage feeding with an increase in prey density for both adults and grubs.