Studies on feeding propensity of predatory mite, Amblyseius alstoniae Gupta and lady bird beetle, Coccinella septempunctata L. on okra mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval)

Studies under laboratory conditions were conducted to observe the feeding propensity of predatory mite, Amblyseus alstoniae Gupta and lady bird beetle, Coccinella septempunctata L. which have been found feeding on okra mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval). It was interesting to note that the feeding propensity of predatory mite, A. alstoniae was maximum in the first hour of release and then showed a decreasing trend. A single predatory mite consumed on an average 3.4 mites during first hour of release, however, it showed a decreasing trend in latter four intervals, where the feeding proficiency was observed to be 2.2, 1.3, 0.9 and 0.3 adults only. On the whole, a single predatory mite consumed 8.1 mites during 24 h with a range of 6-11 mites. In 2005, it was observed that a single predatory mite consumed on an average 3.1 mites during first hour of release, however, it showed a decreasing trend in latter four intervals, where the feeding proficiency was observed to be 2.0, 1.1, 0.9 and 0.3 adults only. On the whole, a single predatory mite consumed 7.4 mites during 24 h with a range (6-9 mites). In 2004, a single beetle of C. septempunctata consumed on an average 9.5 mites during first hour of release, and showed a decreasing trend in latter intervals, where the feeding proficiency was observed to be 6.7, 4.2, 1.8 and 1.0 adult mites. As a whole, a single beetle of C. septempunctata consumed 23.2 mites during 24 hours duration (range 21-25 mites), whereas in 2005 such consumption was 21.9 mites (range 18-25 mites) with similar trend of consumption at different intervals as observed in 2004.