LAUSR

Green lacewing, Pseudomallada astur (Banks) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is a potential predator of the invasive rugose spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) infesting coconut palms. A meridic diet for its mass production was standardized. Highest fecundity (393 eggs), larval hatch (324.60 larvae), pupation (279.20 pupae), male longevity (23.25 days) and female longevity (59.62 days) of P. astur were recorded when reared on adult diet comprising honey, protein X, glucose, coconut pollen and yeast. In the laboratory, each P.astur larva fed on 705 and 996 eggs of Corcyra cephalonica and A. rugioperculatus in a period of 13.23 and 21.19 days, respectively. About 7.26 lakh and 17.76 lakh P.astur eggs were distributed to farmers during 2019 and 2020, respectively in East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India to combat A. rugioperculatus . Field evaluation indicated significantly low population of A. rugioperculatus (19.96 nymphs) on coconut palms inoculated with P. astur eggs than un-released control palms (158.5 nymphs) on 28th day after inoculation and thus established successful predatory potential on rugose spiralling whitefly.