author(s)
M Jamal Ahmad, Sajad Mohiudin, SS Pathania and Malik Mukhtar

abstract
The anthocorid bug, Blaptostethus pallescens (Poppius) from ICAR-NBAIR, Bengaluru, India showed positive response against eggs of pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola (Foerster). Feeding potential of an individual bugof B. pallescens from 1^st instar to adult was 3.4 to 9.4, 5.2 to 9.6 and 6.2 to 10.0 eggs on 1^st 2^nd and 3^rd day respectively at 1:15 predator prey ratio/ day. Per cent host egg mortality caused by feeding during 3 day’stime, by 1^st instar nymph to adult ranged 27.03 to 61.34. Data on rate of consumption among each stage of the predator was found statistically significant on 1^st 2^nd and 3^rd day. Total egg consumption by 1^st instar, 2^nd instar, 3^rd instar, 4^th instar and adult was worked out as 11.19, 24.52, 27.36, 43.52 and 160.74 respectively. An individual bug in its life time of 35 days consumed 267.33 eggs of pear psylla. Total egg consumption was found strongly correlated with the stage of the predator (r= 0.925**; d.f.= 23). Regression equation between host stage vs. per day rate of egg consumption (Y = 3.38 + 1.14X) and host stage vs. host egg mortality was established as Y = 24.48 + 8.26X).