Abstract
Total mortality during the nymphal stage of Palomena augulosa MOTSCHULSKY was 54% in both the group fed alfalfa till the 7th day of 2nd instar and thereafter fruits of kidney bean (AB-7) and the group fed sucrose till the 7th day of 2nd instar and thereattar fruits of kidney bean (SB-7), not significantly different from that in the group fed fruits of kidney bean throughout the nymphal stage (B-control) (46%). However, mortality was 80% in both the group fed alfalfa till the 14th day and then fruits of kidney bean (AB-14) and the group fed sucrose till the 14th day and then fruits of kidney bean (SB-14). The total mortality of Eurydema rugosum MOTSCHULSKY was 0% in the group fed fruits of rape through-out the nymphal stage (C-control), 10% in the group fed sucrose till the 6th day and thereafter fruits of rape (SC-6), 80% in the group fed sucrose till the 10th day and then fruits of rape (SC-10), 40% in the group fed alfalfa till the 3rd day and then fruits of rape (AC-3) and 100% in the group fed alfalfa till the 6th day and thereafter fruits of rape (AC-6). In P. angulosa, the growth of the nymphs fed alfalfa (AB-7 and AB-14) or sucrose (SB-7 and SB-14) in the 2nd instar was retarded in the early nymphal stage (2nd and 3rd) but recovered in the later nymphal stage (4th and 5th). In E. rugosum, the growth of the nymphs fed alfalfa or sucrose (AC-3, SC-6 and SC-10) in the 2nd instar was also retarded and the retardation was never recovered till adult stage. Weight gain per day of P. angulosa in the 2nd and 3rd instars was smaller in temporal food fed-groups than in B-control, whereas the weight gain in the 4th and 5th instars was larger in the former than in the latter. Adult weight of P. angulosa and E. rugosum was not significantly different among different food groups.
