author(s)
NV Jadhav, IA Ghonmode, SB Kharabade and GR Lolge

abstract
The present study was conducted to study the biology of Australian Lady Bird Bettle, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant on mealy bugs, Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green and Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley under controlled condition in laboratory at Agriculture Entomology Section, College of Agriculture, Pune (M.S.) during the year 2017. The incubation period, hatching percent, total larval duration, pre-pupal and pupal period i.e. total developmental period of Australian Lady Bird Bettle, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant were slightly higher when fed on mealy bug species, Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green than Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley. It also found that adult of C. montrouzieri took more time to complete its pre-mating (7.06 ± 0.48 days), mating, pre-oviposition (7.56 ± 0.41days) and oviposition (53.49 ± 2.59 days) stages when fed on M. hirsutus. Fecundity of C. montrouzieri was observed more when fed on M. hirsutus (156.26 ± 20.31). Adult longetivity of C. montrouzieri was slightly higher when fed on M. hirsutus than P. solenopsis. Further it was also seen that female beetles lived longer than male beetles.