Biology, Behavior, Functional Response and Molecular Characterization of Rihirbus Trochantericus Stal Var. Luteous (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) a Potential Predator of Helopeltis Spp. (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Abstract

Reduviid species are recorded as indigenous natural enemies of tea mosquito bug (Helopeltis spp.), which is one of the major economically important pests of cashew. Rihirbus trochantericus laid eggs singly as well as in groups of up to 26 eggs in 3 to 7 clusters per female. The incubation period was 13.00 ± 0.69 days. The stadial durations of I, II, III, IV and V nymphs were 12.39 ± 1.13, 7.00 ± 0.39, 7.56 ± 0.35, 9.28 ± 0.64 and 12.78 ± 1.27 days, respectively. Adult males and females survived for 107.13 ± 2.70 and 117.9 ± 3.83 days, respectively and their sex ratio was 1: 0.7. The sequential acts of predation as well as mating conform to those of Harpactorine reduviids. R. trochantericus exhibited Holling’s type II functional response. The molecular characterization of R. trochantericus will be highly useful in confirming the identity of the species in any of its life stages.