I Maran, S.P.M. 1999.

Chosen reduviid predators-

I - prey interaction : Nutritional and pheromonal I
I chemical ecology (Insecta: Heteroptera: I
I Reduviidae). Ph. D Thesis. Manonmaniam I
Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, India. pp. 111.

NUTIITIONAL ECOLOGY

IV. 1. INTRODUCTION

Insects exhibit diversified life styles and feeding patterns which play a major

role in determining the strategies of growth and reproduction (Enders, 1976; Lawton

and McNeil, 1979). Scriber and Slanslzy (1981) demonstrated that the nutritional

ecology is the central point for the proper interpretation of manner of feeding,

reproduction, defence, habitat selection and such other life history phenomena in

arthropods. Moreover an insect's existence, its physiology, behaviour, ecology and its

phylogeny and evolution are strongly influenced by nutritional factors (Slansky,

1982 b). For instance the amount, the rate and the quality of food consumed by a

larva influence its performance in growth rate, developmental time, final body weight,

dispersal activity, probablity of survival and diversity in nature (White, 1978; Scriber

and Slansky, 1981; Slansky, 1982 a). Similarly the amount, rate and quality of

food consumed by an adult insect will affect its performance, timing and extent of

reproduction, dispersal activity, probability of survival and quality of offspring produced

(de"Wilde and deLoof, 1973a, b; Slansky, 1980a, b; 1982a). According to Waldbauer

(1968), Muller et al., (1973) and Blumberg and Swirski (1974), when food quality

-is changed the subsequent rate of development, body composition and growth of

arthropods differ significantly. Further, Anderson and Cummins (1979), McCallough

et a/., (1979) and Cianciara (1980) opined that, growth rate may he influenced by

different kinds of food.

Nutrition seems to be the most crucial single factor in affecting the

postembryonic development and reproductive activities. The profound impact of

nutrition on the development of immature stages and reproductive potentials of the

adult can be a reflection of differences in nourishment acquired by the concerned

individual during its imaginal or immature stages (Wigglesworth, 1960; Johansson,

1964; House, 1966, 1972; Engelmann, 1970; Adi0di and Adiyodi, 1974; Nayar,

1977). The qualitative nutritional requirement of many insects plays a dominant

role in the reproduction of insects (Altman and Dittmer, 1968; House, 1969,

1972, 1974 a; Dadd, 1973).

From the nutritional point of view an organism requires the major nutrients

such as protein, carbohydrates and lipid. Proteins are the important biomolecules

involve in a wide spectrum of cellular functions (Lehninger, 1970). The interplay

between enzymatic and non enzymatic proteins govern the metabolic hormony (Stryer,

1975). Protein stored in tissues like haemolymph and fat body are subsequently

utilised for the adult growth and development.

Carbohydrates form the key substrate for energy release in animals (Prosser,

1973) and they also play an important role in the metabolism.

Lipids are the primary nutrients associated with. long term energy storage in

insects (Downer, 1985). Apart from their functional role, lipids contribute to the

49
energy production in metabolic exigency as they have high calorific value (Lehninger,

1970; Leather and Willings, 1981). Moreover, they are the important constituents

Of membranes, play a key role in the metabolism and comprise some of the most

important control factors in insect growth and morphogenesis. Also, insect growth

hormone, pheromones and sex attractants are lipoidal in nature (Gilbert, 1967).

E ntomophagous insects are a major factor responsible for the natural control

of herbivore insect populations (Huffaker and Messenger, 1964, 1976). Reduviids

are one such largest group of efficient predators of insect pests of agricultural and

forest importance (Ambrose, 1999). A better understanding of nutritional ecology

is imperative for the conservation and augmentation of reduviid predators and their

subsequent utilisation in the biocontrol warfare. As the predatory potential of a

reduviid predator on a particular host or a particular stage of a host species is

determined by the defensive functions or the texture or the nutritional quality of the

prey species, this present investigation was undertaken on three pests belonging to

three different orders viz., S. litura caterpillar (Lepidoptera), M. pustulata (Coleoptera)

and D. cingulatus (Heteroptera). Though Ambrose and Subburasu (1988), Ambrose

et al., (1990), Ambrose and Rani (1991), Venkatesan et al., (1997) and George et

al., (1999) studied the nutritional influence on postembryonic development of reduviid

predators, no report is available for the nutritional influence on the L0 chemical

composition of reduviid predators. Hence, the present study was aimed to study

such aspects in three harpactorine reduviid predators viz., R. fuscipes, R. kumarii and

R. rnarginatus.

50
IV. 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

The laboratory emerged adult insects were allowed to mate, and the eggs

laid by them were collected and kept in small containers with wet cotton swabs to

maintain temperature (30 - 35 oc) and humidity (75 - 85 %) for hatching. The

nymphs hatched were reared in the laboratory under optimal conditions (temperature

30 - 35 Oc; relative humidity : 75 - 85 %; photoperiod : 11 - 13 hrs), on head

crushed larvae of C. cephalonica upto III nymphal instars. Then these III nymphal

instars were categorized into nymphs fed with a) S. litura, b) M. pustulata and

c) D. cingulatus and reared upto first oviposition of adults. Nymphs at the end of

III, IV and V stadia from each category were sacrified to estimate the protein,

carbohydrate and lipid contents following the methodology of Lowry et al., (1951)

for protein, Dubois et al., (1956) for carbohydrate and Bragdon (1951) for lipids.

The postembryonic developmental characteristics such as stadial period,

preoviposition period, fecundity (in the first cluster) and the hatchability were also

studied in the test individuals, separately.

IV. 3. RESULTS

IV. 3. 1. ORGANIC CONSTITUENTS

The prey influenced the organic constituents build lip in the life stages of

R. Juscipes, R. kumarii and R. marginatus (Tables 20 to 22 and Figures 11 to 13).

As the predators grew, the protein and the lipid contents increased, whereas

the carbohydrate content decreased. Predators fed with S. litura caterpillar showed

51
the highest protein, carbohydrate and lipid contents, whereas predators fed with

D. cingulatus showed least protein, carbohydrate and lipid contents.

IV. 3. 1. 1. R. fuscipes

Higher total protein contents were observed in III, J\' V instars and adult

male and female R. fuscipes fed with S. litura (115.00 ± 6.58; 159.16 ± 12.69,

210.23 ± 8.34, 267.60 ± 21.63 and 302.50 ± 17.94 mg/gm, respectively) than

R. fuscipes fed with M. pustulata and D. cingulatus. For instance, M. pustulata fed

III instar R. fuscipes had 102.33 ± 6.90 mg/gm protein and D. cingulatus fed III

instar had 96.66 ± 6.54 mg/gm protein. Similar trends were observed for other life

stages too.

As observed for protein contents higher total carbohydrate contents were

observed in III, IV, V instars and adult male and female R. fuscipes fed with S. litura

(27.33 ± 1.23, 32.00 ± 2.38, 23.16 ± 1.17, 20.00 ± 0.85 and 21.16 ± 2.39

mg/gm, respectively), than R. fuscipes fed with M. pustulata and D. cingulatus.

M. pustulata fed III instar R. fuscipes had 24.33 ± 1.48 mg/gm carbohydrate and

D. cingulatus fed III instar had 21.16 ± 1.54 mg/gm carbohydrate. Similar trends

were observed for other life stages too.

Life stages of R. fuscipes fed with S. litura also showed higher total

contents (125.66 ± 9.97, 133.16 ± 5.60, 184.50 ± 6.65, 218.00 ± 5.10 and

235.83 ± 12.67 mg/gm for III, 1V V instars and adult male and female R. fuscipes,

respectively) than those fed with M. pustulata and D. cingulatus. For instance, the

52

+1 +1
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•- E aq
) N - (0 CC
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C
NLO -'0 (()
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 350 (a) S. litura
M. pustulota
ED. cingujJ
300

250

150

50

AF

--
L
., 0
II

L)

0L

0 IV V AM OF

-
0.1

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Life stages of the predator

Fig. 11. (a) total protein (b) total carbohydrate and (c) total lipid contents
life stases of R. fuscipes fed with S. litura, M. pustulata and D. cingulatus
M. pustulata fed III instar R. fuscipes had 106.66 ± 9.03 mg/gm lipid and

D. cingulatus fed III instar had 9633 ± 6.54 mg/gm lipid. Similar trends were

observed for other life stages too (Table 20; Figures 11 a, band c).

IV. 3. 1. 2. R. kumarii

Higher total protein contents were observed in III, IV, V instars and adult

male and female R. kumarii fed with S. litura (142.16 ± 17.04, 177.33 ± 10.44,

240.88 ± 17.85, 283.50 ± 19.07 and 311.66 ± 10.73 mg/gm, respectively) than

R. kumarii fed with M. pustulata and D. cingulatus. For instance, M. pustulata fed

III instar R. kurnarii had 130.50 ± 17.66 mg/gm protein and D. cingulatus fed III

instar had 117.50 ± 15.91 mg/gm protein. Similar trends were observed for other

life stages too.

As observed for protein contents, higher total carbohydrate contents were

observed in III, I\' V instars and adult male and female R. kumarii fed with S. litura

(20.33 ± 1.33, 19.16 ± 1.62, 19.16 ± 1.62, 21.83 ± 1.08 and 20.50 ± 1.69

mg/gm, respectively), than R. kumaril fed with M. pustulata and D. cingu/atus.

M. pustulata fed III instar R. kumarii had 17.16 ± 1.58 mg/gm carbohydrate and

D. cingulatus fed III instar had 14.66 ± 1.67 mg/gm carbohydrate. Similar trends

were observed for other life stages too.

Life stages of R. kumarii fed with S. litura also showed higher total

contents (125.00 ± 3.42, 145.16 ± 2.87, 149.83 ± 4.92, 240.33 ± 14.82 and

273.50 ± 6.74 mg/gm for III, IV, V instars and adult male and female R. kurnarii,

53
 N'O Nc N-
ci) +1 +1 +1
- — c-fl c-fl 'C
N NO'
C)
+1 +1 1-I
rd
oc-fl c-fl
C) 0 c-fl
+1 +1 +1
'C C m
rc, —
0..4 C m
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 350 (a) S. litura
UM. pusfulata
cingulatus
300

-W
tso-

III IV v IL
+0
fd

+0
—-
0L Q
.3 .-
It

C)

0L

QL
E

III 5/ V AM AF

IV V AU Al
III

Life stages of the predator

Fig. 12. (a) total protein (b) total carbohydrate and (c) total lipid contents of
life stages of R. kumarii fed with S. litura, M. pustulata and D. cingulatus
respectively) than those led with M. pustulata and D. cingulatus. For instance, the

M. pustulata fed III instar R. kumarii had 116.16 ± 3.12 mg/gm lipid and

D. cingulatus fed III instar had 104.16 ± 3.75 mg/gm lipid. Similar trends were

observed for other life stages too (Table 21; Figures 12 a, b and c).

IV. 3. 1. 3. R. marginatus

Higher total protein contents were observed in III, IV, V instars and adult

male and female R. marginatus fed with S. litura (174.16 ± 1.14, 186.50 ± 6.62,

246.00 ± 14.50, 277.83 ± 12.72 and 329.33 ± 5.75 mg/gm, respectively) than

R. marginatus fed with M. pustulata and D. cingulatus. For instance, M. pustulata

fed III instar R. marginatus had 156.16 ± 6.50 mg/gm protein and D. cingulatus fed

III instar had 142.16 ± 5.62 mg/gm protein. Similar trends were observed for

other life stages too.

As observed for protein contents, higher total carbohydrate contents were

observed in III, IV, V instars and adult male and female R. marginatus fed with

S. litura (23.33 ± 1.31, 20.16 ± 1.35, 17.66 ± 0.71, 16.00 ± 1.03 and 17.83 ±

1.49 mg/gm, respectively), than R. marginatus fed with M. pustulata and D. cingulatus.

M. pustulata fed III instar R. marginatus had 18.16 ± 2.42 mg/gm carbohydrate

and D. cingulatus fed III instar had 13.66 ± 1.17 mg/gm carbohydrate. Similar

trends were observed for other life stages too.

Life stages of R. marginatus fed with S. litura also showed higher total

contents (230.83 ± 3.56, 246.00 ± 10.69, 266.33 ± 9.49, 273.83 . ± 9.60 and

54

+4 +1 +4
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 (a) OS. litura
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iM. pustulata
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300

250

200

C)
- 150-

300-

so-

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III IV V AM AF
25-

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300

250

200

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100

50

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Life stages of the predator

13. (a) total protein (b) total carbohydrate and (c) total lipid contents
life stases of R. marginatus fed with S. litura, M. pustulata and D. cingulatus
297.00 ± 12.58 mg/gm for III, J' v V instars and adult male and female R. marginatus,

respectively) than those fed with M. pustulata and D. cingulatus. For instance, the

M. pustulata fed III instar R. marginatus had 205.33 ± 7.07 mg/gm lipid and

D. cingulatus fed III instar had 187.00 ± 8.23 mg/gm lipil Similar trends were

observed for other life stages too (Table 22; Figures 13 a, b and c).

W. 3. 2. POSTEMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

The postembryonic developmental characteristics such as stadial period,

preoviposition period, fecundity (in the I batch) and hatchability studied in

R. fuscipes, R. kumarii and R. marginatus revealed that S. litura provided with better

nutrients than M. pustulata and D. cingulatus. Predators fed with S. litura showed

shorter staclial and preoviposition periods, highest fecundity and hatchability, followed

by those fed with M. pustu/ata and D. cingulatus.

IV. 3. 2. 1. R.fuscipes
R. fuscipes fed with S. litura showed the shortest stadia (5.33 ± 0.33, 6.33

± 0.33, 9.83 ± 0.30 and 11.16 ± 0.40 for III, IV, and V and V to male and V to

female, respectively), than those fed with M. pustulata and D. cingulatus. For

instance, the III stadium of R. fuscipes fed with M. pustulata was 6.83 ± 0.30 days

and that of D. cingulatus was 8.66 ± 0.21 days. Similar trend was observed for all

the other stadia (Figure 14 a).

As observed for the stadial period, the preoviposition period was also shorter in

R. fuscipes fed with S. litura (13.16 ± 0.30 days) than in R. fuscipes fed with

M. pustulata (15.66 ± 0.33 days) and D. cingulatus (18.50 ± 0.34 days) (Figure 15).

55
Table 23. Postembryonic developmental characteristics o f £ fuscipes fed with S. litura, M. pustulata
and D. cingulatus (n = 6, mean ± SE)

Prey species

Parameters
S. litura M. pustulata D. cingu/atus

III - IV 5.33 ± 0.33 6.83 ± 0.30 8.66 ± 0.21

IV - V 6.33 ± 0.33 7.66 ± 0.42 9.16 ± 0.30

Stadial
period
(days)
V - Male 9.83 ± 0.30 11.66 ± 0.42 13.83 ± 0.30

V - Female 11.16 ± 0.40 13.50 ± 0.34 14.66 ± 0.55

Preoviposition period (Days) 13.16 ± 0.30 15.66 ± 0.33 18.50 ± 0.34

Fecundity (No.) 42.83 ± 1.40 35.68 ± 1.65 27.83 ± 1.01

Hatchability (%) 95.25 ± 0.91 83.20 ± 3.05 70.79 ± 1.34

 16

I'

10

111 . 84 0.0 yAM V.AF

45

40

05

30

- 25

-d
20
-d
0
5 IS

to

-d
w
111 . 14 IV.V V - AU V .AF

50

45

40

35

30

25

20

IS

10

Fl - V V AM V - OF
Iul.N

Developmental stages

Fig. 14. Stadial period of (a) R fuscipes (b) R. kumarii and (c) R. marginatus
fed with S. litura, M. pustulata and D. cingulatus
 Ci)
0
E
OQ,,
(t3 *
EC
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o
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O(
ui
th CI)
LL
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Ct) 0 0 It) 0
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 The highest fecundity (in the I batch) was recorded in R. Juscipes fed with

S. litura (42.83 ± 1.40 eggs) followed by that fed with M. pustulata (35.68 ± 1.65

eggs) and D. cingulatus (27.83 ± 1.01 eggs).

The highest hatchability was also found in S. litura fed R. fuscipes (95.25

± 0.91 %) followed in M. pustulata (83.20 ± 3.05 %) and D. cingulatus (70.79 ±

1.34 %) fed ones (Table 23).

IV. 3. 2. 2. K kumarli

R. kumarii fed with S. litura showed the shortest stadia (10.50 ± 0.42,

17.33 ± 0.33, 30.33 ± 0.55 and 31.83 ± 0.40 for III, IV, and V and V to male

and V to female, respectively), than those fed with M. pustulata and D. cingulatus.

For instance, the III stadium of R. kumarii fed with M. pustulata was 13.33 ± 0.42

days and that of D. cingulatus was 16.16 ± 0.40 days. Similar trend was observed

for all the other stadia (Figure 14 b).

As observed for the stadial period, the preoviposition period was also shorter

in R. kurnarii fed with S. litura (19.33 ± 0.71 days) than R. kumarii fed with

M. pustulata (24.66 ± 0.33 days) and D. cingulatus (29.83 ± 0.70 days) (Figure

15).

The highest fecundity (in the I batch) was recorded in R. kumarii fed with

S. litura (83.66 ± 2.16 eggs) followed by that fed with M. pustulata (73.50 ± 0.99

eggs) and D. cingulatus (57.50 ± 2.41 eggs).

56
Table 24. Postembryonic developmental characteristics of R. kumarii fed with S. litura, M. pustulata
and D. cingulatus (n = 6; mean ± SE)

Prey species

Parameters
S. litura M. pustuiata D. cingulatus

III - IV 10.50 ± 0.42 13.33 ± 0.42 16.16 ± 0.40

IV - V 17.33 ± 0.33 20.16 ± 0.40 24.16 ± 0.54

Stadial
period
(days) 36.50 ± 0.62 38.00 ± 0.51
V - Male 30.33 ± 0.55

V - Female 31.83 ± 0.40 36.66 ± 1.20 39.00 ± 1.09

Prcoviposition period (Days) 19.33 ± 0.71 24.66 ± 0.33 29.83 ± 0.70

Fecundity (No.) 83.66 ± 2.16 73.50 ± 0.99 57.50 ± 2.41

Hatchability (%) 96.33 ± 0.49 90.33 ± 0.80 84.33 ± 1.54

 The highest hatchability was also found in S. liturcz fed R. kumaril (96.33 ±

0.49 %) followed in M. pustulata (90.33 ± 0.80 %) and D. cingu 1atus (84.33 ±

1.54 %) fed ones (Table 24).

N. 3. 2. 3. R. marginatus

R. marginatus fed with S. litura showed the shortest stadia (10.00 ± 0.57,

14.16 ± 0.65, 31.16 ± 0.40 and 37.16 ± 0.65 for III, Iv and V and V to male

and V to female, respectively), than those fed with M. pustulata and D. cingulatus.

For instance, the III stadium of R. marginatus fed with M. pustulata was 12.00 ±

0.25 days and that of D. cingulatus was 14.33 ± 0.42 days. Similar trend was

observed for all the other stadia (Figure 14 c).

As observed for the stadial period, the preoviposition period was also shorter

in R. marginatus fed with S. litura (15.00 ± 0.57 days) than R. marginatus fed with

M. pustulata (19.00 ± 0.57 days) and D. cingulatus (26.00 ± 1.03 days) (Figure

15).

The highest fecundity (in the I batch) was recorded in R. marginatus fed

with S. litura (93.66 ± 1.50 eggs) followed by that fed with M. pustulata (77.33 ±

2.42 eggs) and D. cingulatus (63.16 ± 0.79 eggs).

The highest hatchability was also found in S. litura fed R. marginatus (97.66

± 0.55 %) followed in M. pustulata (90.83 ± 1.54 %) and D. cingulatus (77.33 ±

3.41 %) fed ones (Table 25).

57
 Table 25. Postembryonic developmental characteristics of £ marginatus led with S. litura,
M pustulata and D. cingulatus (n = 6, mean ± SE)

Prey species

Parameters
S. litura M. pustulata D. cingulatus

III - IV 10.00 ± 0.57 12.00 ± 0.25 14.33 ± 0.42

IV - V 14.16 ± 0.65 16.66 ± 0.76 18.16 ± 0.40

Stadial
period
(days)
V - Male 31.16 ± 0.40 34.00 ± 0.36 37.66 ± 0.42

V - Female 37.16 ± 0.65 40.50 ± 0.67 . 44.00 ± 0.81

Preoviposition period (Days) 15.00 ± 0.57 19.00 ± 0.57 26.00 ± 1.03

Fecundity (No.) 93.66 ± 1.50 77.33 ± 2.42 63.16 ± 0.79

Hatchahility (%) 97.66 ± 0.55 90.83 ± 1.54 77.33 ± 3.21

Iv. 4. DiscussioN

The degree of prey specificity as well as feeding potential and physiology of

insect natural enemies are regulated by the quality and quantity of nutrients of prey

insects (Huffaker, 1958; Vinson, 1975). The predators of terrestrial arthropods

gain adequate nutrients from prey that range from about 1 jg to 50 gms (Enders,

1975), which are surrounded by a formidable cuticular barrier (Gilmour, 1961;

Prosser, 1973). The extra oral digestion (POD) using predators ingest only the

internal contents of the prey and thus have the advantage of selecting nutrient rich

food (Hespenlieide, 1973; Enders, 1975; Cohen, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1993).

The influence of nutrient quality of the prey insect on the biochemistry of

the predators was evident from the present results. Higher contents of protein,

carbohydrates and lipids were found in predators fed with S. litura than those fed

with M. pustulata and D. cingulatus. I estimated the nutrient quantity of these prey

species before begining this experiment, which proved that S. litura was nutritionally

superior (protein 357.60 ± 8.19 mg/gm; carbohydrate : 76.58 ± 7.84 mg/gm;

lipid: 189.86 ± 7.23 mg/gm) than M. pustulata (protein : 248.60 ± 5.57 mg/gm;

carbohydrate : 53.62 ± 7.83 mg/gm; lipid : 84.53 ± 11.51 mg/gm) and D. cingulatus

(protein : 202.01 ± 3.72 mg/gm; carbohydrate 47.80 ± 2.28 mg/gm;

77.08 ± 1.73 mg/gm). Thus predators fed with S. litura had higher protein,

carbohydrate and lipid contents. Careful observation of the feeding behaviour of

these three predators revealed that, the duration of feeding of R. fuscipes on S. litura

was
and M. pustulata was 90 minutes, separately and R. kumarii and R. marginatus

D. cingulatus was
150 -minutes, whereas the duration of feeding of R. fuscipes on

58
only 30 minutes and 45 min in R. kumaril and R. marginatus, separately. During

this feeding period about 80-90 % of the prey S. litura was utilized by these predators,

whereas only 60 - 70 % of M. pustulata and 45 - 50 % of D. cingulatus was utilized

by them. Thus highest amount of food was consumed from the nutrient rich

S. litura, which lead to better conversion efficiency. Mulzerji and Le Roux (1969)

reported a wide range of efficiencies of energy conversion (19.27 % to 74.53 %)

from food to body material in the hemipteran predator P0dd5 maculiventris (Say),

nymphs. This variation in conversion efficiency was related to food quality (Cohen,

1984). It seems reasonable that the high conversion efficiency is associated with

the feeding apparatus of hemipteran predators (Cohen, 1984). The piercing sucking

mouthparts allow selection of soft, highly digestible materials; and the possibility of

injection of digestive enzymes that helps to predigest the internal prey contents and

may add this efficiency.

Nutrition and reproduction are inter - related processes. the differences in

the rate of larval development, survival, adult emergence, longevity and fecundity

depend on the quality of host tissue. In this present study, shortest stadial and

preoviposition periods and highest fecundity and hatchability were observed in

R. Juscipes, R. kumarii and R. marginatus fed with S. litura than those fed th

M. pustulata and D. cingulatus. Similar nutritional influence on the postembryonic

developmental characteristics of reduviids viz., A. pedestris (Ambrose and Subburasu,

1988), R. rnarginatus (Ambrose et al., 1990), R. kumarii (Ambrose and Rani,

1991), Cydnocoris gilvus Burmeister (Venkatesan et al., 1997) and Sycanus collaris

Fabricius (George et al., 1999) was studied. Ambrose and Subburasu (1988),
59
reported the shortest incubation and stadial periods, the longest adult longevity,

higher fecundity and hatchability in A. pedestris fed with Musca domestica Linnaeus

than that fed with Odontotermes obesus Rambur and Camponotus compressus Fabricius.

Ambrose et al., (1990) made a similar attempt with R. marginatus. From these

observations it was concluded that the defensive behaviour and agility of the prey

played a dominant role in the predators' prey preference. Predators developed a

predatory stress when it was confronting a prey with deterrents or repellents. Thus

these harpactorine predators preferred the soft bodied, slow moving lepidopteran

prey (S. litura) than the hard cuticled, defensive secretory coleopteran (M. pustulata)

and hemipteran (D. cingulatus) (Ambrose, 1999). Similar prey influenced

postembryonic development was reported by Haque and Islam (1982) in Menochelus

sexmacu!atus; Obryclzi and Orr (1990) in coccinellicis and Tawfik et al., (1983) and

Parajulee and Philips (1993) in anthocorids.

Since egg production depends on accumulation of sufficient nutrients during

larval period and attainment of adult weight, it will facilitate for the allocation of

substantial nutrient energy by the adults for egg production (Englemann, 1970;

deWilde and deLoof, 1973 a, b; Slanslzy, 1980 a, b, 1982 a, by In the present

observation the nymphs of these predators gained adequeate nutrients from S. litura,

which was reflected by their higher amount of organic constituents. Since the

nymphal instar predators consumed higher amount of nutrient rich food from

S. litura the accumulated nutrients during the nymphal period helped emergence

healthy and productive females, which could be inferred by their fecundity and

hatchability.

60
 Thus the nutritional ecology and reproduction are inter - related processes

in reduviids occupying in conjunction with behavioural and chemosensory facets and

hence corm the prey predator interaction. The major limiting factor of distribution

and divergence of reduviids in any ecosystem is the prey. Though assassin bugs are

polyphagous, each species has its own prey preference. The intricate mechanism

involved in between the nutritional ecology and reproduction in reduviids are little

understood and hence demands much more work in this line of investigation.

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