D. K. MEENAAND R. SWAMINATHAN

The predation efficiency of two coccinellid predators of the coriander aphid, (Das), was evaluated under ambient conditions of temperature and humidity in laboratory studies at the Department of Entomology, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur-313001, during 2008-09. Adults of (L.) and (F.) showed an increasing trend in the average prey consumption per day. The coccinellid, recorded higher percentage feeding at lower aphid densities that gradually reduced with increased aphidprey density being the highest (91.4%) at an aphid density of 20 and the lowest (36.52%) at an aphid density of 320.
However, the other coccinellid, registered a near-uniform feeding at aphid densities of 20, 40, 80 and 160; whereas, as at the aphid density of 320 the feeding response was the lowest (45.77%).With an increase in the aphid density provided the percentage feeding values dropped down subsequently, which had a more marked difference for, whereas for the difference was less marked. On the basis of prey biomass equivalent (mg) consumed by both coccinellids, an increasing trend was recorded, which had slightly changed for The biomass equivalent consumed at different aphid prey densities varied significantly.