BIOLOGY AND MATING BEHAVIOUR OF CORANUS SPINISCUTIS REUTER (HEMIPTERA: REDUVIIDAE), A KEY PREDATOR OF RICE GANDHI BUG LEPTOCORISA VARICORNIS FABRICIUS

ABSTRACT The reduviid predator, Coranus spiniscutis was reared in the laboratory on rice moth Corcyra cephalonica larvae for studying its biology and mating behaviour. Female laid eggs in single and the incubation period was 4.66 ± 0.77 days. The stadial period was maximum for fifth and minimum for third instars. The sex ratio was 1:0.8 for male and female. The preoviposition and, oviposition periods were 6.20 ± 0.93, 60.32 ± 2.52 days, respectively. The sequential acts of mating behaviour were: arousal, approach, riding over, genitalia extension, connection achievement and post copulatory acts. This study helps to integrate this reduviid in IPM programme either directly or indirectly