Diversity of Predatory Complex of Lipaphis erysimi kalt. on certain cruciferous crops in Manipur, North-East India Diversity of Predatory Complex of Lipaphis erysimi kalt. on certain cruciferous crops in Manipur, North-East India

Abstract

Aphids, the tiny homopterans, sap sucking insects cause injury to the important agricultureal crops and fruit plants either directly by draining the phleom sap or by transmitting viral diseases and thereby causing great economic loss. Lipaphis erysimi (kalt.) known as mustard aphid is one of the serious aphid species causing heavy loss to the cruciferous crops. An extensive survey on biodiversity and abundance of predators on cruciferous crops was assessed for a period of two consecutive years (2014-2016). The periodical survey revealed the occurrence of 13 species of aphid predators belonging to 3 diverse groups viz, 7 syrphids, 5 coccinellids and 1 hemerobiid. The syrphid predators include Episyrphurs balteatus (De Geer), Ischiodon scutellaris (Fabr.), Paragus seratus (Fabr), Betasyrphus serarius (Weid), Sphaerophora indiana (Bigot).  Metasyrphus confrator (Weid.) and Sphaerophora sps. The species recorded under Coccinellid predator include Coccinella septumpunctata (Linn), Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabr.), Coccinella transversalis (Fabr.), Coelophora saucia Mulsant and Micraphis discolor Fabr., while the species under Hemerobidii was Micromus timidus Hagen. The occurrence of such natural enemies showed variations in terms of density and species compostion at various stages of plant growth