Bioefficacy of Rhynocoris longifrons (Stål) (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) against multiple cotton pests under screen house and field conditions

Rhynocoris longifrons (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) is a generalist predator of many cotton insect pests. The hiding behaviour of this predator, which is one of the key factors of predation success, was investigated under screen house conditions. Moreover, we evaluated its biocontrol potential against Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Dysdercus cingulatus (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae), Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), and Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under screen house and field conditions. Results showed that R. longifrons life stages preferred to hide under small pebbles in the screen house tests. All the R. longifrons life stages showed a biocontrol potential against the four insect pests under screen house conditions. However, their biocontrol potential had not varied in relation to day and night hours. Augmentative releases of R. longifrons were carried out for two seasons such as South-west monsoon, 2011 and post-monsoon, 2012. The augmentative release of R. longifrons reduced significantly insect pests on cotton. In fact, the release of this predator in cotton fields was capable to reduce the population of H. armigera (50%), P. solenopsis (28%), D. cingulatus (18.8%), and A. gossypii (11.8%) during the rain fed condition (south-west monsoon season). During irrigated condition (post-monsoon season), populations of D. cingulatus were reduced by 26%, than P. solenopsis (20.6%), and A. gossypii (16.8%). Except ants, no negative impact was reported on other natural enemies present in the cotton field. Significantly higher crop yield and cost benefit ratio was observed in the predator release plots indicating that R. longifrons can be used in an integrated pest management program for multiple cotton pests.