OCCURRENCE OF CANTHECONA FURCELLATA WOLFF -A PREDATORY BUG ON HYBLAEA PUERA CRAMER AND EUTECTONA MACHAERALIS (WALKER) IN TEAK FORESTS OF MADHYA PRADESH

摘要

Information on the occurrence of predatory bug, Canthecona furcellata Wolff (Hemiptera: Heteroptera : Pentatomidae : Pentatominae) was collected from slightly moist teak forests, dry teak forests and very dry teak forests of Madhya Pradesh, with respect to outbreak period of teak defoliator, Hyblaea puera Cramer (Lepidoptera : Hyblaeidae) and leaf skeletonizer, Eutectona machaeralis (Walker) (Lepidoptera : Pyralidae), during the year 2008-2009. This predatory bug was recorded from most of the localities and observed to feed on the larvae of both H. puera and E. machaeralis. Both adult and nymph feed within the leaf fold made by the host larvae. Incidence of predation was substantial during July, August, September and October. Its abundance was morein slightly moist teak forests, but the- incidence was very low or almost absent during the first outbreak period of H. puera, irrespective of types of teak forests. The study showed the possibility of C. furcellata as a biocontrol agent for management of teak pests.