Development of 28-spotted ladybeetle epilachna vigintioctopunctata (coleoptera: coccinellidae) on three food treatments

Ladybeetles are very recurrently accessible in the gardens as well as in the agricultural fields. On the basis of their feeding habits they can be categorized differently, for instance, those feeding on aphids are aphidophagous while those preferring to feed on coccids are coccidophagaous and the third category is austerely phytophagous and is deliberated as the pest of nightshades and cucurbits. Development of the larvae of Epilachna vigintioctopuncata Fabricius, universally known as the 28-spotted ladybeetle was studied by feeding them on three food treatments. One group was fed on the leaves of Momordica charantia, other on the flowers of the same plant and the third group was fed on leaves alternated by flowers of bitter gourd. Results specify best survival as well as development among the group fed on leaves followed by food alternation and flowers.