A study on the biocontrol potential of Euagoras plagiatus Burmeister (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) on caterpillars of Pterophorus lienigianus Z., a pest of Solanum melongena Linn. in relation to prey density
Abstract
The study on the functional response of E. plagiatus in relation to caterpillars of P. lienigianus which infest S. melongena suggested that the predator was capable of suppressing the increasing pest population by killing more number of pest. E. plagiatus responded to the increasing density of pest by killing more prey than at lower densities. This was further confirmed by the positive correlation obtained between the prey density and prey killed. A negative correlation was obtained between prey density and searching time of predator at all prey densities.
