| In this work, the stage preference and functional response of the indigenous reduviid bug Rhynocoris longifrons feeding on five different densities of the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii, Phenacoccus solenopsis, and Dysdercus cingulatus was examined in Petri dish arenas containing cotton leaves under laboratory conditions. The reduviid predator exhibited a Type II functional response at all hemipteran pests evaluated when data were fit to Holling's disc equation. Predatory rate gradually increased while the predator grew older and adults consumed maximum number of D. cingulatus and P. solenopsis. An opposite trend was observed, while the reduviid was provided with Aphis gossypii. The rate of attack on P. solenopsis was quite low but fairly consistent, with the... |
