BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF ELEVEN-SPOT LADYBIRD Coccinella undecimpunctata (LINNAEUS), REARED ON COWPEA APHID, Aphis craccivora (KOCK), UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS

The predatory potential and biology of Coccinella undecimpunctata L. fed on cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora Kock have been studied under laboratory conditions (25±2ºC and 60±5% R.H.). The results revealed that mean consumption of aphids per C. undecimpunctata adult was 80.8, whereas, 21.76, 55.67, 107.86 and 231.03 aphids were consumed by a single larva during 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th instars, respectively. A single female laid 195.0±13.10 eggs during entire life period. The egg hatching was 96.3% while 82.0 % larvae survived up to pupal stage. Total larval and pupal duration was 23.4±0.35 and 5.3±0.56 days, respectively. Mean percent emergence in male and female was 36.6±2.98 and 56.6±4.21, respectively. Male to female sex ratio was recorded 1:1.5.