A butterfly predator on cotton mealy bugs

[bapuj...@gmail.com]

A butterfly predator on cotton mealy bugs

Spalgis epius, commonly called as blue butterflies, feed on diverse
unrelated foods such as plants, fungi, lichens, cycads, ferns,
conifers, homopterans (mealybugs, scale insects, aphids, etc.) and
larvae of ants.
Among them, less than 5 per cent is purely entomophagous (feeding on
insects) species.

Recent survey
Recently a survey was made in different cotton growing areas of Tamil
Nadu for the presence of mealy bug Phenacoccus solenopsis, a new pest
that is spreading very fast. This mealy bug was also found to attack
other crops like tomato and sunflower.
S.epius was found associated with cotton mealy bugs and was collected
from both Bt and non Bt cotton plants attacked by P.solenopsis.
The larvae of this butterfly were also found on parthenium, crotons,
hibiscus and tomato infested with P.solenopsis.

Mealy coating
Larva feed on all stages of the mealy bug. They are sluggish, stout
and have mealy coating that is camouflaging.
As the young larva of S.epius is similar in appearance to mealy bugs,
it is difficult to recognize them amidst the host population.
When fully grown, it is much bigger than the size of the mealy bugs.
Pupa is light brown on the dorso-lateral side and whitish-grey on the
ventral side.
It resembles birds dropping by which it escapes from its predators
like birds. Adult is a small butterfly with upper side of the wings
dark brown in colour and ash coloured lower sides with dark
striations.
A grey colour spot is seen on the forewings. It is a swift and erratic
flier but often rests on the ground plant for longer time.

Protective coverings
Soft bodied insects like scales and mealy bugs are always hard to
control with chemical insecticides because of their protective
coverings as well as their capacity to develop resistance.
Ants that are attracted by the honeydew secreted by mealy bugs afford
protection to them.
Attempts are being made to mass culture this potential predator under
lab condition. If this succeeds then this will be a breakthrough in
the biological control programme of mealy bugs.

A. Suganthi
M. Kalyanasundaram
& V. Mahalaksmi

Department of Entomology, TNAU
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

[ayyappan regupathy]

Good information
True, the blue butterfly Spalgius epius is feeding on mealy bugs. Recently I have observed S.epius feeding on Papaya mealy bug Paracoccus marginatus.A number of papers are available on S.epius. The need of the hour is how to exploit the predatory potential of S.epius.As on date there is no possibility of mass multiplication of S.epius due to the constraint of egg laying in capitive condition. It shall be greatly appreciated if the scientists working on biocontrol may take up this challenge.
Regards
AR
\Prof. A. Regupathy
Consultant ( Insecticide - Toxicology )
Formerly * Prof.& Head,Dept. of Agric. Entomology,
* Dean, Agricultural College & Research Institute, Madurai
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore-641 003, India.
Address for correspondence
31, Azhagar Illam
Revathy Nagar
P.N.Pudur Post
Coimbatore -641 041
Phone: Res:091-422-2423284; Mobile- 94433 43633



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