Journal of Environmental Biology

Comparative biology of Coccinella septempunctata and Cheilomenes sexmaculata on mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.)

S.K. Mishra, B.S. Tiwari, R. Pandey and M.K. Mishra*     

Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Banda University of Agriculture & Technology, Banda-210 001, India

Received: 17 May 2025                   Revised: 06 September 2025                   Accepted: 15 October 2025

*Corresponding Author Email : mishraent@gmail.com                         *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8970-7587

Abstract

Aim: To compare the biology of Coccinella septumpunctata (L.) and Cheilomenes sexmaculata  (Fab.) on mustard aphid Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.) for assessing their biocontrol potential.

Methodology: A laboratory study was conducted  at the Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Banda University of Agriculture & Technology during 2023 to evaluate the biology of C. septumpunctata and C. sexmaculata reared on mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi. Ten pairs of adults of each species were observed for developmental stages, reproductive traits, and longevity.

Results: C. septempunctata showed longer life cycle (22.10 ± 0.84 days), combined grub to pupal period averaged 17.95 ± 0.65 days, total developmental period (egg to adult emergence) spanned 22.10 ± 0.84 days and higher fecundity (324.50 ± 23.43 eggs) as compared to C. sexmaculata, which developed more rapidly, where total developmental period (egg to adult) averaged 16.68 ± 0.17 days and the fecundity was averaged 198.8 ± 13.70 eggs.

Interpretation: The study indicates that C. septempunctata had higher fecundity and longer development, making it suitable for sustained aphid control, while C. sexmaculata developed faster, favoring rapid biocontrol response. Both species showed longer female longevity and strong potential as biocontrol agents in eco-friendly farming systems.

Key words: Comparative biology, Coccinella septempunctata, Cheilomenes sexmaculata, Mustard aphid

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