author(s)
Deeksha Kumari, SC Verma and PL Sharma

abstract
The study on biology, feeding potential and functional response of the coccinellid, Coccinella septempunctata L. to Aphis gossypii Glover was carried out in the Biological Control Laboratory of Department of Entomology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India. The study reveals that average incubation period of C. septempunctata was 3.20 days. The mean duration of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th larval instar, total larval, pre pupal and pupal period was 2.24, 3.12, 3.32, 4.10, 13. 34, 1.90 and 3.90 days, respectively. Females laid on an average of 189.60 eggs in their life span of 43.84 days. Mean number of aphids consumed per day by 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th instars were 15.08, 31.54, 55.94 and 63.10 aphids, respectively. The predator consumed on an average 579.92 aphids during the entire larval stage. The number of aphids consumed increased with advancement of larval instars and increased in prey density. The mean number of aphids consumed by 4th instar of C. septempunctata was 23.30 at prey density of 25 and 65.40 aphids at the prey density of 125, respectively. Adults of C. septempunctata consumed maximum aphids (78.30) at prey density of 125. Predator’s attack rate was lowest (0.075 h-1) for the 1st instar and highest (0.175 h-1) with the adult stage followed by attack rate of 4th instar (0.152 h-1). All the stages as well as adult of C. septempunctata followed a Type II functional response. Thus, the 4th instar and adult of C. septempunctata could be utilised in biological control of A. gossipii.