This document outlines the mass production of Scymnus coccivora, a predatory beetle, for biological control. It describes using mealybugs (Planococcus citri) on pumpkins as the host in the laboratory. Pumpkins are selected, washed, treated with fungicide, and infested with mealybugs. After 3 weeks, 10-15 Scymnus coccivora beetles are released to feed on the mealybugs and multiply on the infested pumpkins inside rearing cages. The full life cycle and taxonomy of Scymnus coccivora is also described.

2. UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
BENGALURU
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
HASSAN
MASS PRODUCTION OF
Scymnus coccivora

3. Predator
 A free living organism throughout its life
cycle which kills its prey and which require
more than one prey or host to complete its
life cycle which is usually larger than its
host or prey.
In 1888 First successful biological
control of insect using predator, Australian
lady bird beetle on cottony cushiony scale.

4. Scymnus coccivora
 Taxonomic position
 Kingdom:Animalia
 Phyllum:Arthropoda
 Class : Insecta(Hexapoda)
 Order: Coleoptera
 Family: Coccinellidae
 Genus: Scymnus
 Species:Coccivora

5. Biology of Scymnus coccivora
 Eggs: Pale yellow eggs are laid in the colony
of mealy bugs.

6.  Grubs: Dorsal surface covered wiyh white waxal
filaments.
 Campodeiform larva.
 On hatching,they immediately feed on mealy
bugs.
 Larval period:15-20 days
 Pupa: Oval and light reddish brown fringed with
hairs.
 Exarate pupa.
 Pupal period: 1-2 days

7.  Adult: Elongate oval ,moderately convex, black
coloured, pale yellow to yellowish brown
markings on elytra.
 Two small circular spots on the elytra.
 Both adults and grubs are predators on mealy
bugs.

8. Mass production of Scymnus
coccivora
In our laboratory, we use mealy bugs,(Planococcus
citri) on pumpkin as the host for the mass
production of the coccinellid beetle.
.

9. 1.Pumpkins selection:
Pumpkins with well grooved ridges are purchased to
rear mealy bugs in the laboratory

10. 2. Washing of Pumpkin:
The pumpkin must be washed thoroughly with
tap water to remove dust particles.

11. 3.Chemical treatment:
Then the pumpkins are dipped in 0.1%
(1g/liter) solution of Benlate or Bavistin to kill all the
fungal rot Pathogens and dried.

12. 5. Infestation
After drying, one pumpkin is infested with mealy
bugs .
6. Placement of pumpkins:
. Later the infested pumpkin is placed in the 30
cu.cm cage.

13. After 3 weeks of infestation we had achieved
the good amount of mealy bug population, which
was sufficient to release the predatory beetle.

14. 7. Release of beetle
About 10-15 beetles of Scymnus coccivora
which were brought from Mysore were released
on the mealy bug infested pumpkin in the rearing
cage.
These beetles were allowed to multiply.

15. Submitted to
Dr. B.S.Basavaraju
Dept of Agricultural Entomology
College of Agriculture
Hassan
Submitted by
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