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INFLUENCE OF BT COTTON FED HERBIVORES ON THE FECUNDITY AND LONGEVITY OF CHRYSOPERLA CARNEA (STEPHENS)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the influence of Bt cotton fed herbivores on the fecundity and longevity of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) and it was found that there was non-significant Bt cotton mediated effect on the performance of C. carnea indicating the safety of Bt cotton to non-targets. However, influenced performance of C. carnea was found due to prey suitability. The results revealed that fecundity and longevity of C. carnea was significantly influenced by different prey herbivores. High fecundity of Chrysoperla was also found on Bt cotton fed aphids as 418 eggs/female, followed by eggs and neonates of Helicoverpa as 360.60 eggs/female, followed by nymphs of jassids as 342.40 eggs/ female. The maximum longevity of Chrysoperla adult male and female was recorded on Bt cotton fed aphids (26.00 and 39.20 days) than on other preys. Whereas jassids fed on Bt cotton showed least prey suitability as prey to its predator, Chrysoperla carnea. Thus, the data on fecundity and longevity revealed that the aphids were the most suitable prey for C. carnea followed by H. armigera, whereas, leafhopper was least suitable prey among the tested ones.

P.N. MAGAR AND K.P. BUDHVAT

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