Influence of Larval Diet on Pupal Period and Size of Cocoon of Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Peterson)

A study was conducted in the Biocontrol Laboratory, Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha during 2020-21 to record the influence of larval diets on pupal period and size of cocoon of Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Peterson). Six larval diets i.e. T1 (Purple aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch.), T2 (Green aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer)), T3 (Mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.)), T4 (Papaya mealy bug, Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink), T5 (Pink mealy bug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green)) and T6 (Corcyra cephalonica Stainton 1st instar larva) were tested along with one control (T7= Corcyra cephalonica egg). T1 was detected as the best larval diet which produced maximum pupal period of 8.90 days with 16.80% increased over control. Maximum cocoon diameter was also recorded in T1 i.e. 3.28 mm with 11.95% increased over control. T1 was closely followed by T3 with respect to pupal period (8.74 days with 14.70% increase over control) and diameter of cocoon (3.20 mm with 9.22% increase over control) of C. zastrowi sillemi.