Preference of generalist predator, Eocanthecona furcellata (Wolff.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) against live and larval extracts of three different insect pests

The prey preference of the generalist predator, Eocanthecona furcellata (Wolff.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) was assessed during the year 2019–2020, against three insect pests. The main goal of investigation was to figure out the role of physical and olfactory cues in prey selection by predator. So in this study E. furcellata nymphs and adults were tested against live larvae and larval extracts of Spodoptera litura , Spilarctia obliqua and Corcyra cephalonica . The study revealed that the nymphs and adults of the predatory bug have a strong preference for the larvae of S. litura , followed by C. cephalonica and S. obliqua . The olfactory response of predatory bug revealed that 48 ± 3.71 percent of the predatory bugs oriented towards S. litura larval extract with an approaching time of 18.54 ± 0.59 min, followed by the extract of S. obliqua larval (32 ± 4.89 percent) with an approaching time of 38.66 ± 0.95 min and C. cephalonica larval extract (14 ± 2.44 percent) with an approaching time of 48.34 ± 1.20 min. The current study will be helpful to understand the preference and olfactory response of predatory bug, E. furcellata in selecting its preferred host and their utilization in proper mass rearing under in-vitro conditions.