Biology and Predatory Potential of Harmonia octomaculata (Fabricius)

This book gives brief information on Biology and predatory potential of spotted ladybird beetle, Harmonia octomaculata (Fabricius) on lucerne aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) under laboratory condition. The female of H. octomaculata laid eggs singly or in cluster of 21 to 52 eggs. The mean incubation period was 3.44 ± 0.50 days. The average hatching percentage was 94.37 ± 2.00 per cent. The larvae of H. octomaculata passed through four instars. The total larval duration was 9.42 ± 0.95 days. The average pre-pupal and pupal duration were 1.1 ± 0.3 and 4.14 ± 0.57 days, respectively. Male and female were lived 46.14 ± 1.69 and 53.64 ± 1.97 days, respectively. H. octomaculata is a very active and voracious predator. The larva consumed 183.96 ± 17.97 A. pisum aphids during its total larval developmental period. The total consumption of H. octomaculata during entire lifespan was 1708.37 ± 58.63 aphids.