Mallada desjardinsi (Navas): A chrysopid predator on sucking and mite pests of citrus

Predatory potential of Mallada desjardinsi (Navas) was studied on nymphs of citrus psylla, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, citrus blackfly, Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby, aphid Aphis gossypii Glover and Oriental red mite, Eutetranychus orientalis (Klein) along with eggs of rice grain moth, Corcyra cephalonica under laboratory conditions at 26 ± 2°C and 60 ± 5% RH. Results revealed that M.desjardinsi larvae on an average consumed 657.80 aphids, 577.20 psylla, 367.80 blackflies and 504.40 mites (all nymphs) as against 329.40 C.cephalonica eggs during its entire larval period (no choice feeding). Larval period was significantly shorter (8.5 days) when reared on C. cephalonica eggs (13–18.5 days) which substantiate the host utility for mass multiplication.